






































PATTY AND AZALEA 








Patty and Azalea 


BY 

CAROLYN WELLS 

o 

Author of 

The Patty Books, The Marjorie Books, etc. 


Illustrations by E. C. Caswell 



> j > 


NEW YORK 

DODD, MEAD AND COMPANY 

igig 



\ 





Copyright, 1919 

By Dodd, Mead and Company, Inc. 


btr ib 

/^r 

©CI.A53 0 8 31 


THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED 
WITH LOVING GOOD WISHES TO 
PRISCILLA KERLEY 



CONTENTS 


CHAPTER PACE 


I 

Wistaria Porch . 

9 

II 

Guests Arrive 

25 

III 

Betty Gale . 

41 

IV 

A New Relative . 

57 

V 

That Awful Azalea . 

• 73 

VI 

Table Manners . 

89 

VII 

Mysterious Callers . 

. 105 

VIII 

Missing . 

121 

IX 

Vanity Fair . 

• 138 

X 

Inquiries 

. 156 

XI 

The Sampler . 

170 

XII 

Azalea’s Chance . 

. 187 

XIII 

“ Star of the West ” . 

• 203 

XIV 

At the Picture Play . 

219 

XV 

Some Records 

• 235 

XVI 

Azalea’s Story 

. 251 

XVII 

Philip’s Request . 

. 268 

XVIII 

Philip’s Brownie . 

. 286 



ILLUSTRATIONS 


And so they sat side by 

SIDE ON THE PORCH, AND 
READ THE LONG LOOKED- 

for missive . . . Frontispiece 

“ I’m not sure Azalea is 

QUITE READY TO BE PRE- 
SENTED to society” . Facing page ioo 

She proved exceedingly 

SKILFUL WITH THE BOW 

AND ARROW ... l 80 

“ Can’t I count that way 
WITH YOU, — can’t I, 

Azalea?” ... 264 



PATTY AND AZALEA 


CHAPTER I 

WISTARIA PORCH 

Little Billee! Come quick, for 

\ 3 goodness’ sake I The baby’s chok- 

W ing ! ” 

Patty was in the sun parlour, her arms full of 
a fluttering bundle of lace and linen, and her 
blue eyes wide with dismay at her small daugh- 
ter’s facial contortions. 

“ Only with laughter,” Bill reassured her after 
a quick glance at the restless infant. “ Give 
her to me.” 

The baby nestled comfortably in his big, 
powerful arms, and Patty sat back in her chair 
and watched them both. 

“ What a pleasure,” she said, complacently, 
“ to be wife and mother to two such fine speci- 
mens of humanity! She grows more and more 
like you every day, Little Billee.” 

“ Well, if this yellow fuzz of a head and this 

[9] 


Patty and Azalea 

pinky peach of a face is like anybody in the 
world except Patty Farnsworth, I’ll give up! 
Why, she’s the image of you, — except when 
she makes these grotesque grimaces, — like a 
Chinese Joss.” 

“Stop it! You shan’t call my baby names! 
She’s a booful-poofle ! She’s a hunny-bunny! 
She’s her mudder’s pressus girly-wirly, — so she 
wuz ! ” 

“ Oh, Patty, that I should live to hear you 
talk such lingo ! I thought you were going to 
be sensible.” 

“ How can anybody be sensible with a baby 
like that! Isn’t she the very wonderfullest 
ever! Oh, Billee, look at her angel smile! ” 

“Angel smile? More like a mountebank’s 
grin ! But I’m sure she means well. And I’ll 
agree she is the most wonderful thing in the 
world.” 

Bill tossed the child up and down, and 
chuckled at her evident appreciation of his 
efforts for her amusement. 

“ Be careful of my baby, if you please,” and 
Patty eyed the performance dubiously. “ Sup- 
pose you drop my child? ” 

“ I hardly think I shall, ma’am. And, inci- 
dentally, I suppose she is my child?” 

[ io ] 


Wistaria Porch 

“ No; a girl baby is always her mudder’s own 
— only just her very own mudder’s own. Give 
her to me ! Let me has my baby, — my ownty- 
donty baby! ” 

Farnsworth obediently handed Patty her prop- 
erty, and put another pillow behind her as 
she sat in the low willow chair. Then he seated 
himself near, and adoringly watched his two 
treasures. 

It was mid-April and the Farnsworths had 
been married more than a year. On their re- 
turn from France, they had looked about for a 
home, and had at last found a fortunate chance 
to buy at a bargain a beautiful place up in West- 
chester County. It was near enough to New 
York for a quick trip and yet it was almost 
country. 

The small settlement of Arden was largely 
composed of fine estates and attractive homes. 
This one which they had taken was broad and 
extensive, with hundreds of acres in lawns, gar- 
dens and woodland. It was called Wistaria 
Porch, because of an old wistaria vine which 
had achieved astounding dimensions and whose 
blooms in the spring and foliage later were the 
admiration of the whole countryside. 

The house itself was modern and of the best 
[II] 


Patty and Azalea 

Colonial design. Indeed, it was copied in nearly 
every detail from the finest type of Colonial 
mansion. Though really too large for such a 
small family, both Patty and Bill liked spacious 
rooms and lots of them, so they decided to 
take it, and shut off such parts as they didn’t 
need. But no rooms were shut off, and they rev- 
elled in a great library beside their living-room 
and drawing-room. They had a cosy breakfast 
room beside the big dining-room and there 
were a music room and a billiard room and a 
den and great hall with a spreading staircase; 
and the second story was a maze of bedrooms, 
guest rooms and bathrooms. 

It took Patty some days even to learn her way 
round, and she loved every room, hall and 
passage. There were fascinating windows, 
great wide and deep ones, and little oriels and 
dormers. There were unexpected turns and 
nooks, and there was, — which brought joy to 
Patty’s heart, — plenty of closet space. 

The whole place was of noble proportions 
and magnificent size, but Patty’s home-making 
talents brought cosiness to the rooms they 
themselves used and stateliness and beauty to 
the more formal apartments. 

“ We must look ahead,” she told Billee, “ for 
[ 12 ] 


Wistaria Porch 

I expect to spend my whole life here. I don’t 
want to fix a place up just as I like it, and then 
scoot off and leave it and live somewhere else. 
And when our daughter begins to have beaux 
and entertain house parties, we’ll need all the 
room there is.” 

“ You have what Mr. Lucas calls a ‘ leaping 
mind,’ ” Bill remarked. “ But I’m ready to 
confess I like room enough to swing a cat in, — 
even if I’ve no intention of swinging poor puss.” 

And so they set blithely to work to furnish 
their ancestral halls, as Patty called them, claim- 
ing that an ancestral hall had to have a begin- 
ning some time, and she was beginning hers 
now. 

Such fun as it was selecting rugs and hangings, 
furniture and ornaments, books and pictures. 

Lots of things they had bought abroad, for 
Captain Bill had been fortunate in his affairs 
and had had some leisure time in France and 
England after the war was over to collect some 
art treasures. 

Also, they didn’t try or want to complete the 
whole house at once. Part of the fun would be 
in adding bits later on, and if there were no 
place to put them, there would be no fun in buy- 
ing things. 


Patty and Azalea 

Patty was a wise and careful buyer. Only 
worth-while things were selected, not a miscel- 
laneous collection of trumpery junk. So the 
result to date was charming furniture and 
appointments, but space for more when 
desired. 

Little Billee’s taste, too, was excellent, and 
he and Patty nearly always agreed on their 
choice. But it was a rule that if either disap- 
proved, the thing in question was not bought. 
Only such as both sanctioned could come into 
their home. 

The house had a wide and hospitable Colonial 
doorway, with broad fanlight above and 
columns at either side. Seats, too, flanked the 
porch, and the carefully trimmed wistaria vine 
hung gracefully over all. Across both ends of 
the house ran wide verandahs, with porte co- 
chere , sun parlour, conservatory and tea-porch 
breaking the monotony. 

Patty’s own bedroom was an exquisite nest, 
done up in blue and silver, and her boudoir, 
opening from it, was a dream of pink and white. 
Then came the baby’s quarters; the day nursery, 
gay with pictured walls and the sun porch, 
bright and airy. 

For the all-important baby was now two 

[14] 


Wistaria Porch 

months old, and entitled to consideration as a 
real member of the family. 

Fleurette was her name, — only selected after 
long thought and much discussion. Bill had 
stood out for Patricia Fairfield Farnsworth, but 
Patty declared no child of hers should be sad- 
dled with such a burden for life 1 Then Bill 
declared it must be a diminutive, in some way, 
of the mother’s name, and as he always called 
Patty his Blossom Girl, the only suggestion 
worth considering was something that meant 
Little Flower. And as their stay in France had 
made the French language seem less foreign 
than of yore, they finally chose Fleurette, — the 
Baby Blossom. 

Farnsworth was a man of affairs, and had 
sometimes to go to Washington or other distant 
cities on business, but not often or for a long 
stay. And as Patty expressed it, that was a lot 
better than for him to have to go to New York 
every day, — as so many men of their acquaint- 
ance did. 

u I never thought I’d be as happy as this,” 
Patty said, as, still holding her baby, she sat 
rocking slowly, and gazing alternately at her 
husband and her child. 

[ 15 ] 


Patty and Azalea 

“Why not?” Farnsworth Inquired, as he 
lighted a fresh cigar. 

“ Oh, it’s too much for any one mortal ! Here 
I’ve the biggest husband in the world, and the 
littlest baby ” 

“ Oh, come now, — that’s no incubator 

chick!” 

“ No, she’s fully normal size, Nurse says, but 
she’s a tiny mite as yet,” and Patty cuddled the 
mite in an ecstasy of maternal joy. 

“ I thought friend Nurse wouldn’t let you 
snuggle the kiddy like that.” 

“ She doesn’t approve, — but she’s still at her 
lunch and when the cat’s away ” 

And then the white uniformed nurse appeared, 
and smiled at pretty Patty as she took the baby 
from her cuddling arms. 

“ Come for a ride, Patty Maman?” asked her 
husband, as they left the little Fleurette’s pres- 
ence. 

“ No ; let’s go for a walk. I want to look over 
the west glade, and see if it will stand a Jap- 
anese tea-house there.” 

“All right, come ahead. You’ve not for- 
gotten your dinky tea-porch? ” 

“No; but this is different. A tea-house is 
lovely, and ” 


Wistaria Porch 

“ All right, Madame Butterfly, have one if you 
like. Come down this way.” 

They went along a picturesque path, between 
two rocky ravines, — a bit of real scenic effect 
that made, indeed, a fine setting for a little 
structure for a pleasure house of any kind. 

“Lovely spot!” and Patty stood still and 
gazed about over her domain. 

“ Seems to me I’ve heard you remark that 
before.” 

“ And will again, — so long as we both shall 
live ! Oh, Little Billee, I’m so glad I picked 
you out for my mate ” 

“ / picked you out, you mean. Why, the first 
moment I saw you, I ” 

“You kissed me! Yes, you did, — you bad 
man ! I wonder I ever spoke to you again ! ” 

“ But I kissed you by mistake that time. I’d 
no idea who you were.” 

“ I know it. And you’ve no idea who I am, 
now ! ” 

“ That’s true, sweetheart. For you’ve as > 
many moods and personalities as a chameleon, 
— and each more dear and sweet than the last.” 

“ Look here, my friend, haven’t we been 
married long enough for you to cease to feel the 
necessity for those pretty speeches? ” 

[ 17 ] 


Patty and Azalea 

“Tired of ’em?” 

“No; but I don’t want you to think you 
must ” 

“ Now, now, don’t be Patty Simpleton ! When 
I make forced or perfunctory speeches, you’ll 
know it! Don’t you think so, Patty Mine? ” 

“ Yep. Oh, Billee, look, there’s the place for 
the tea-house ! ” 

Patty pointed to a shady nook, halfway up 
the side of the ravine. 

“Great!” agreed Bill. “Wait a minute, — 
I’ll sketch it in.” 

He pulled an old envelope and a pencil from 
his pockets, and rapidly drew the location with 
a few hasty strokes, and added a suggestion 
of an Oriental looking building that was meant 
for the proposed tea-house. 

“Just right!” cried Patty; “you are clever, 
dear! Now draw Baby and me drinking tea 
there.” 

A few more marks did for the tea drinkers 
and a queer looking figure hurrying along the 
path was doubtless the father coming home. 

Patty declared herself satisfied and folded the 
paper and put it safely away in her pocket. 

“ We’ll get at that as soon as the landscape 
gardener finishes the sunken garden,” she said. 

[18] 


Wistaria Porch 


“ Oh, I’m glad I’m alive ! I never expected to 
have everything I wanted in the way of gar- 
dens! Don’t you love them, too? ” 

“ Of course, — and yet, not as you do, Patty. 
I was brought up in the great West, you know, 
— and sometimes I long for the big spaces.” 

“Why, this is a big space, isn’t it?” 

“ I mean the prairies, — yes, even the desert, — 
the limitless expanse of ” 

“Limitless fiddlesticks! You can’t have the 
earth! ” 

“I don’t want it. You’re all the world to 
me, then why crave the earth? ” 

“ Nice boy! Well, as I was about to say, do 
you know, I think it’s time we had some guests 
up here, just for to see and to admire this par- 
adise of ours.” 

“ Have them, by all means. Are you settled 
enough? ” 

“ Oh, yes. And I shan’t have anything much 
to do. Mrs. Chase is a host in herself, and 
Nurse Winnie takes full charge of my child, — 
with Susie’s help.” 

“ Do you own that infant exclusively, ma’am? 
I notice you always say my child ! ” 

“ As I’ve told you, you don’t count. Why, you 
won’t really count until the day when some nice 

[19] 


Patty and Azalea 

young man comes to ask you for the hand of 
Mademoiselle Fleurette.” 

“ Heaven forbid the day! I’ll send him pack- 
ing! ” 

“ Indeed you won’t! I want my daughter to 
marry and live happy ever after, — as Vm 
doing.” 

“Are you, Patty? Are you happy? ” 

As Billee asked this question a dozen times a 
day for the sheer joy of watching Patty’s lovely 
face smile an affirmative, she didn’t think it 
necessary to enlarge on the subject. 

“ I do be,” she said, succinctly, and Farns- 
worth believed her. 

“ Now, I propose,” she went on, “ that we 
have a week-end house-party. That’s the nicest 
way to show off the place ” 

“ Patty ! Are you growing proud and ostenta- 
tious?” 

“ I’m proud — very much so, of my home and 
my family, — but nobody ever called me osten- 
tatious ! What do you mean? ” 

“ Nothing. I spoke thoughtlessly. But 
you are puffed up wid pride and wanity, — / 
think.” 

“ Who wouldn’t be, — with all this? ” 

Patty swept an arm off toward the acres of 

[ 20 ] 


Wistaria Porch 

their domain, and smiled happily in her delight 
of ownership. 

“Well, anyway,” she went on, “we’ll ask 
Elise and Bumble and Phil and Kenneth and 
Chick and ” 

“ Don’t get too many, — you’ll wear yourself 
all out just talking to them.” 

“ No: a big party entertain themselves better 
than a few. Well, I’ll fix up the list. Anybody 
you want specially? ” 

“ No, not now. Some time we’ll have Mona 
and Roger, of course; and some time 
Daisy ” 

“ Yes, when we have Adele and Jim. Oh, 
won’t we have lots of jolly parties! Thank 
goodness we’ve plenty of guest rooms.” 

“Are they all in order?” 

“ Not quite. I have to make lace things and 
fiddle-de-fads for some of them.” 

“ Can’t you buy those? ” 

“ Some I do, but some I like to make. It’s no 
trouble, and they’re prettier.” 

“ Let’s go back around by the garage, I want 
to see Larry.” 

They strolled around through the well-kept 
vegetable gardens and chicken yards, and came 
to the garage. Here were the big cars and 
[ 21 ] 


Patty and Azalea 

Patty’s own little runabout. Larry, the chauf- 
feur, touched his cap with a respectful smile at 
Patty, and as Farnsworth talked to the man, 
Patty stood looking off across the grounds and 
wondering if any one in the whole world loved 
a home as she did. 

Then they went on, strolling by the flower beds 
and formal gardens. 

“ And through the land at eve they went,” 
quoted Bill, softly. 

“ And on her lover’s arm she leant,” Patty 
took up the verse. 

“ And round her waist she felt it fold,” con- 
tinued he : 

“ And far across the hills they went 
To that new world which is the old. 

And far across the dying day. 

Beyond its utmost purple rim: 

Beyond the night, across the day 
The happy Princess followed him.” 

“ Through all the world she followed him,” 
added Patty; “I think our quotations are a 
bit inaccurate, but we have the gist of Tenny- 
son’s ideas.” 

“ And the gist is ? ” 

“ That Pm a happy Princess,” she smiled. 

[ 22 ] 


Wistaria Porch 

“ Well, you’re in your element, that’s certain. 
I never saw anybody enjoy fixing up a house 
as you do ! ” 

“ Did you ever see anybody fix up a house, 
anyway? ” 

“ I’m not sure I ever did. I had very little 
home life, dear.” 

“ Well, you’re going to make up for that now. 
You’re going to have so much home life from 
now on, that you can hardly stagger under it. 
And I’m going to make it! ” 

“ Then it will be a real true home-made home ! 
Sometimes, Patty, I fear that with all your tea- 
houses and formal gardens you’ll lose the real 
homey effect ” 

“ Lose your grandmother ! Why, in the right 
hands, all those faddy things melt into one big 
bundle of hominess, and you feel as if you’d 
always had ’em. Soon you’ll declare you’ve 
never lived without a Japanese tea-garden in 
your back yard ! ” 

“ I believe you! You’d make a home feeling 
in the Parthenon, — if you chose to live there ! ” 

“Of course I should! Or in the Coliseum, 
or in the Taj Mahal.” 

“ There, there, that will do ! Don’t carry your 
vaunts further! Now come around the house, 

[23] 


Patty and Azalea 

and let’s go in under the wistaria. It’s a purple 
glory now ! ” 

“ So it is ! What a stunning old vine it is. I > 
did think I’d change the name of the place, but 
that wistaria over that porch is too fine to be 
discarded. Let’s get Mr. Hepworth up here to 
paint it.” 

“ It must be painted, and soon, while it’s in 
its prime. If Hepworth can’t come, I’ll get 
somebody else. I want that picture.” 

“ And let’s have some photographs of it. It’s 
so perfect.” 

“ All right, I’ll take those myself, — to-mor- 
row, — it’s too late now.” 

“ And me and Baby will sit in the middle of 
the composition! Won’t that be touching! ” 

Patty laughed merrily, but Farnsworth said, 

“ You bet you will! Be ready in the morning, 
for I’ll want a lot of poses.” 


C24 ] 


CHAPTER II 


GUESTS ARRIVE 

“X REFUSE to go a step further! This 
I porch of wistaria is the most wonder- 
ful thing I ever saw in all my life ! 
When I heard the name of the place, I thought 
it was crazy, — but of course I see now r it’s the 
only possible name ! I don’t care what’s inside 
the house, — here I am, — and here I stay! ” 

Elise Farrington threw off her motor coat, and 
settling herself on the side seat of the porch, 
under the drooping bunches of purple bloom, 
looked quite as if she meant what she said. 

Patty stepped out from the doorway and 
smiled at her visitor. 

“ All right, Elise,” she said, “ you may. I’ll 
send out your dinner, and you can sleep here, 
too, if you like.” 

“ No, I’ll come in for my board and lodging, 
but all the rest of the time look for me here ! 
I’m going to have some lavender frocks made, 
[25] 


Patty and Azalea 

— dimities and organdies, and then I’ll be part 
of the picture.” 

“ Oh, do! I can’t wear lavender or purple,” 
Patty sighed. 

“ Nonsense! Of course you can. You only 
mean you’ve never tried. That bisque doll com- 
plexion of yours will stand any color. Let’s 
both get wistaria-coloured frocks, and ” 

Elise’s plans were interrupted by the appear- 
ance of Farnsworth and two men who had ar- 
rived for the house party. These were our 
old friends, Philip Van Reypen and Chickering 
Channing. 

Still a devoted admirer of pretty Patty, Van 
Reypen had become reconciled to his fate, and 
moreover had discovered his ability to take 
pleasure in the society of other charming young 
women. 

Channing was the same old merry Chick, and 
he was exuberant in his praise of the beautiful 
home of the Farnsworths which he now saw for 
the first time. 

“ Great little old place ! ” he exclaimed, enthu- 
siastically. “But why such an enormousness? 
Are you going to keep boarders? ” 

“Yes, if you’ll stay,” laughed Patty. “But, 
you see it was a bargain, — so we snapped it up.” 
[26] 


Guests Arrive 

“ The old story,” put in Bill. “ Man built it, 
— went bankrupt, — had to sell at sacrifice. 
Along came we, — bought it, — everybody 
happy! ” 

“I am,” declared Elise; “ this is the sort of 
place I’ve dreamed of. Beautiful nearby ef- 
fects, and a long distance view beside. This 
porch for mine, — all the time I’m here.” 

“ But you haven’t seen the other places yet,” 
Patty demurred. “ There’s a tea-porch ” 

“ Wistaria, too? ” 

u Yes, of course.” 

“ Lead me to it! ” and Elise jumped up, and 
made for the house. 

Then they all strolled through the wide hall 
and out at the back door on to the tea-porch. 
This was furnished with white wicker tables 
and chairs, and indeed, was prepared for im- 
mediate use, for a maid was just bringing the 
cakes and crumpets as the party arrived. 

“ Goody ! ” cried Elise, “ can we have tea now, 
Patty? I’m famished.” 

“ Yes, indeed,” and Patty took her place at the 
tea table with a matronly air, and began to 
pour for her guests. 

“ It’s just as pretty as the other porch,” Elise 
decided, looking critically at the festoons of 
[ 2 7 ] 


Patty and Azalea 

wistaria, which was on three sides of the house. 
“ But I’ll adopt the first one. Anybody looking 
for me will find me there — ’most always.” 

“ We’re always looking for you,” said Chan- 
ning, gallantly, as he took up his teacup, “ and 
it is a comfort to know where to fin; ! you. Of 
late you’ve been inaccessible.” 

“ Not to you,” and Elise glanced coquettishly 
from under her eyelashes. 

“To me, then,” put in Van Reypen. “I’ve 
not seen you, Elise, since I came back from 
Over There. You’ve grown a lot, haven’t 
you? ” 

“Taller?” 

“ Mercy no ! I mean mentally. You seem 
more — more grown up like.” 

“ Everybody is, since the war work. Yes, 
Phil, I have grown, — I hope.” 

“There, there,” warned Patty; “no serious 
talk just now, please, — and no war talk. For 
the moment, I claim your attention to my new 
house and its surroundings.” 

“ Some claim you’ve staked out,” and Chick 
grinned. “ I want to see it all. And, — more- 
over, — I want to see the rest of the family! ” 

Patty beamed. “ You dear! ” she cried; “ do 
you really want to see my daughter? ” 

[28] 


Guests Arrive 

“ My daughter,” Farnsworth added; “but I 
didn’t know you chaps would be interested in 
our infant prodigy. I never cared about seeing 
other people’s babies.” 

“ I do,” stoutly insisted Channing. “ I’m a 
connoisseur on kiddies. Let me see him.” 

“ He isn’t him,” laughed Patty, “ he’s a 
she.” 

“ So much the better,” Chick avowed. u I 
love girl babies. Where is she? ” 

“ You can’t see her now, she’s probably asleep. 
To-morrow she’ll be on exhibition. I hear a 
car ! It must be Mona ! ” 

“ I’ll go and fetch her,” said Farnsworth, 
springing up, and after a short time he returned 
with two newcomers, Mona Farrington and 
her husband, Roger. 

Then there was more greeting and exclama- 
tion and laughter, as the latest guests admired 
the new home, and accepted Patty in her becom- 
ing role of hostess. 

“To think of little Patty as the chatelaine of 
this palatial menage ! ” said Roger, “ and actu- 
ally acting as if it belonged to her ! ” 

“ It isn’t palatial,” corrected Patty, “ but it 
does belong to me, — that is, to me and my 
friend William. He vows I claim the baby for 

[29] 


Patty and Azalea 

all my own property, — but I’ll accord him a 
share in the place.” 

“ It all belongs to me,” said Farnsworth, with 
a careless sweep of a big arm. “ The wistaria, 
Patty, the baby, and all ! ” 

“ That’s right,” agreed Roger, “ keep up your 
air of authority as long as you can! I tried 
it, — but Mona soon usurped the position! ” 

“ Nonsense ! ” and Mona smiled at her hus- 
band. “ Don’t you believe him, Patty. We go 
fifty-fifty on everything, — as to decisions, I 
mean. He gives in to my superior judgment 
half the time, and I let him have his own foolish 
way the other half. Follow my plan and you’ll 
live happily, my dear.” 

“ Are we your first company? ” asked Elise. 
“Yes, — except Father and Nan, — and a few 
calls from the neighbours. This is my first 
house-party. And I do want it to be a success, 
so I’m going to depend on you all to help me. 
If I do what I ought not to do, — or leave un- 
done the things which I should ought to do, — 
check me up, — won’t you, please? ” 

“We sure will,” agreed Channing, “but 
something tells me you’re going to prove an 
ideal hostess.” 

“ She will,” nodded Farnsworth, “ she takes to 

[30] 


Guests Arrive 

hostessing like a duck to water. She even asked 
me what sort of smokes you chaps prefer.” 

“ I hope you remembered,” said Roger. 
“ And when are they to be passed around? ” 

“ Right now,” said Patty, smiling and nodding 
to the maid who hovered near. 

In truth, Patty was a born hostess, and with- 
out fuss or ostentation always had the comfort 
of her guests in mind. While not overburdened 
with a retinue of servants, she had enough to 
attend to everything she required of them; and 
her own knowledge and efficiency combined 
■with her tact and real kindliness brought about 
a state of harmony in her household that might 
well have been envied by an older and more ex- 
perienced matron. 

Mrs. Chase, who had the nominal position of 
housekeeper, found herself strictly accountable 
to Patty for all she did, and as she was sensible 
enough to appreciate Patty’s attitude, she suc- 
cessfully fulfilled the requirements of a butler 
or steward, and had general charge and over- 
sight of all the housekeeping details. 

“ The way to keep house,” said Patty to Mona 
and Elise, as she took them away with her, 
leaving the men to their “ smokes,” “ is not so 
much to work yourself as to be able to make 

[ 3 1 ] 


Patty and Azalea 

others work in the way you want them 
to.” 

“ That’s just it,” agreed Mona, “ and that’s 
just what I can’t do ! Why, my servants rode 
over me so, and were so impudent and lazy, I 
just gave up housekeeping and went to a hotel 
to live. We had to, — there was no other way 
out.” 

“ And how Roger hates it! ” said Elise, who, 
as Roger’s sister, thought herself privileged to 
comment. 

A cloud passed over Mona’s face. “ He 
does,” she admitted, “ but what can I do? He 
hated worse the scenes we had when we were 
housekeeping.” 

“ Perhaps conditions will get better now,” said 
Patty, hopefully, “ and you can try again, 
Mona, with better results.” 

“Maybe; and perhaps you can teach me. 
You used to teach me lots of things, Patty.” 

“ All right, — I’ll willingly do anything I can. 
Now, who wants to see my angel child? Or 
would you rather go to your rooms first? ” 

“ No, indeed,” cried Elise, “ let me see her 
right now. If she’s as pretty as the wistaria 
vine — oh, Patty, why don’t you name her 
Wistaria? ” 

[32] 


Guests Arrive 


“ Gracious, what a name ! No, she’s Fleur- 
ette, — or so Little Billee says. Anyway, here 
she is.” 

Patty led them to the nursery, and from the 
lacy draperies of the bassinette a smiling baby 
face looked up at them. 

“What a heavenly kiddy!” Elise exclaimed. 
“ Oh, Patty, what a daffodil head! Just a blur 
of yellow fuzz ! And such blue eyes ! She 
looks exactly like you! And exactly like Bill, 
too. Oh, I never saw such a darling baby. Let 
me take her, — mayn’t I ? ” 

“ Yes, indeed. She’s no glass-case baby.” 

Elise picked up the dear little bundle, and 
cooed and crooned in most approved fashion. 

Apparently Fleurette understood, for she 
smiled and gurgled, and seemed to look upon 
Elise as an old friend. 

Mona admired the baby but was more in- 
terested in the house. 

“ Show me everything,” she begged Patty. “ I 
want to see it all. Where’s your linen closet? ” 

“ My linen closet is a room,” and Patty led 
them thither. “You see, we have such a lot 
of rooms and, — such a lot of linen, — that I 
took this little bedroom for a linen press. I 
had a carpenter put in the shelves and cup- 

[33] 


Patty and Azalea 

boards just as I wanted them, — and here’s the 
result.” 

With justifiable pride, Patty showed her linen 
collection. Sheets, towels, tablecloths, — each 
sort in its place, each dozen held by blue ribbon 
bands, that fastened with little pearl buckles. 

Other shelves held lace pieces, luncheon sets, 
boudoir pillow-cases, table scarfs, and all the 
exquisite embroidered bits that are the delight 
of the home lover. 

“Perfectly wonderful!” Elise declared; 
“ looks just like a shop in Venice or Nice. 
How do you keep them so tidy? and where did 
you ever get so many? ” 

“ Oh, I’ve done quite some shopping to get 
our Lares and Penates together, and Bill let 
me get whatever I wanted in the house furnish- 
ing line. Yes, this linen room is my joy and 
my pride. See, this cupboard is all curtains. I 
do love to have fresh curtains as often as I 
want them.” 

“ Well, it’s all like Fairyland,” Mona said. 
“ I have beautiful things, too, but they don’t 
look like this. They’re all in a jumble on the 
shelves, and everything is hodge-podge.” 

“ Oh, well, you’re just as happy,” laughed 
Patty. “ I chance to be naturally tidy, and I 

[ 34 ] 


Guests Arrive 

just love to potter over my things, and keep 
them in place. Some time I’ll show you Baby’s 
wardrobe. Her little things are too dear for 
anything. But now I’ll take you to your rooms. 
This is yours, Elise. I picked out this one for 
you, because it’s lavender, — and I know that’s 
your favorite colour.” 

“ And the wistaria vine is looking in at the 
windows ! ” Elise noted, with joy. “ Oh, Patty, 
I won’t live on the porch, either, I’ll live up 
here.” 

It was a beautiful room. A deep seated bay- 
window, with latticed panes, opened into a pro- 
fusion of wistaria blooms, and the fragrance 
filled the whole place. The furniture was of 
ivory enamel and the appointments were of 
various harmonious shades of lavender. A 
chaise-longue was well supplied with lace pil- 
lows and a nearby stand and reading-lamp 
hinted at the comfortable enjoyment of a tempt- 
ing array of new books. 

Pansies and violets were in small bowls, and 
on a table stood an enormous vase full of trail- 
ing branches of wistaria. 

“ What a picture ! ” and Elise stood in the 
middle of the floor, looking about her. “ Patty, 
you’re a wonder! I don’t care if you have 

[35] 


Patty and Azalea 

shoals of servants, you fixed up this room, — I 
know you did.” 

“ Of course I did, — with Mrs. Chase to help 
me. She’s a treasure, — she catches on to my 
ways so quickly. Glad you like it, Elise, honey. 
Now settle yourself here, — your bags will be 
up in a minute, — and I’ll put Mona in her 
niche.” 

“ I’m coming too,” and Elise went with the 
others to the rooms designed for Mona and 
Roger. 

“ This is my Royal Suite,” laughed Patty, as 
she ushered them into a charming apartment 
done up in handsome English chintz. 

“ It suits me,” and Mona nodded approval. 
“ You had this done by a professional, Patty.” 

“ It was here when we bought the house. You 
see, some rooms were already furnished, when 
the man decided to sell it. And of these, such 
as we liked we kept as they were. This is es- 
pecially fine chintz and also good workmanship, 
so as it is so imposing in effect, we call it the 
Royal Suite. Father and Nan adored it, and 
you and Roger are the next Royal guests.” 

“ It’s great,” said Elise, “ not half as pretty 
as mine, but more dignified and gorgeous.” 

The chintz was patterned with tropical birds 

[36] 


Guests Arrive 

and foliage and as the hangings were many and 
elaborate the effect was gorgeous. The bath- 
room was spacious and fully equipped, and as 
Mona’s things had arrived she turned to in- 
struct the maid who was already unpacking 
them. 

“ Come back with me to my room,” said 
Elise, as she and Patty went down the hall. 

“ Just for a minute, then, for I must go and 
sort out the rest of my visitors. I am putting 
Philip and Chick over in the west wing, far re- 
moved from the nursery, for I don’t want them 
imagining they are kept awake by the night 
thoughts of my child. And, I must confess, 
Fleurette has a way of tuning up in the wee, 
small hours! However, we had the nursery 
walls muffled, so I don’t think you’ll be dis- 
turbed. Isn’t this outlook fine, Elise? ” 

“ Beautiful,” and Elise joined Patty at the bay- 
window. “ This is the most effective room I 
ever saw, and so comfy.” 

“ And here’s your bath,” Patty opened the 
door to a bathroom of white-tiled and silver 
daintiness. “ Now you’ve time for a tub and 
a rest before dinner. So I’m going to leave you. 
Come down at eight, — or sooner, if you 
like.” 


[37] 


Patty and Azalea 

Housewifely Patty ran away, happy in her 
new role of hostess to a house party. 

The men still sat on the tea-porch, smoking, 
and talking over the political situation. 

“ Here you are again,” Chick greeted her; 
“but where’s the che-ild? I must see that 
youngster to-night. I’ve — I’ve brought her a 
present.” 

“Oh, well, come along, then,” said Patty; 
“ if you’re really so anxious to meet the young 
lady, — why wait? ” 

The two went up to the nursery, and though 
a little surprised at the unexpected call, Nurse 
Winnie made no objection. 

“ Here’s your new friend,” and Patty lifted 
Fleurette out of her pillows and presented her 
to Chick. 

“What a beauty!” he cried, as he saw the 
golden curls and the big blue eyes. “ And so 
intelligent! ” 

“ Of course ! Did you think she’d look 
vacant? ” 

“ They often do,” said Chick, sagely. “ Why, 
my cousin’s baby looks positively idiotic at 
times, — but this mite, — she knows it all ! ” 

And Fleurette did look wise. Being in benign 
mood, she smiled at the big man who held her 

[38] 


Guests Arrive 

so gently, and put out a tentative fist toward his 
face. 

“ Born flirt,” he declared, u just like her 
mother! Well, Patty, she’s a wonder-child, — 
oh, I know ’em! — and I hereby constitute my- 
self her godfather, without waiting to be 
asked.” 

“Good! We accept the honour. Make a 
bow, Fleurette.” 

“ No, the honour is mine. She doesn’t quite 
take it all in, yet, — but in days to come, she may 
feel real need of a godfather and I’ll be there !” 

“What do godfathers do? I never had 
any.” 

“ I’m not quite sure, myself. I’m going to get 
a field-book, — or First Lessons in Godfathering, 
or something like that. But, anyway, I’m hers ! 
Oh, Patty, she’s going to grow up a beauty! 
Did you ever see such eyes ! ” 

Patty laughed at Chick’s enthusiasm, which 
was too patently genuine to be mere polite flat- 
tery, and entirely agreed in his opinion as to 
the good looks of the small Fleurette. 

“What did you bring her?” she asked, and 
Chick drew from his pocket a set of small gold 
pins. 

“ For her bibs and tuckers,” he explained. 

[39] 


Patty and Azalea 

<c At least that’s what they told me at the shop. 
I don’t know much about such things.” 

“ They’re just right,” Patty said, “ and they’re 
her very first present, — outside the family. 
Thank you a thousand times, — you’re very 
thoughtful, Chick.” 

“ I hoped you’d like ’em,” and the big, warm- 
hearted chap smiled with gratification. “ Dress 
her up in them to-morrow, will you?” 

And Patty promised she would. 


[40] 


CHAPTER III 


BETTY GALE 

S EATED at the head of her own dinner 
table that evening, Patty felt decidedly in 
her element. Always of a hospitable 
nature, always efficient in household matters, 
she played her role of hostess with a sweet 
simplicity and a winning grace that charmed all 
her guests. 

Farnsworth, opposite her at the big, round 
table, was a quiet, dignified and well-mannered 
host. He had not Patty’s native ability to en- 
tertain, but he was honestly anxious that his 
guests should be pleased and he did all in his 
power to help along. Patty had coached him 
on many minor points, for Little Billee had 
been brought up in simple surroundings and 
unaccustomed to what he at first called Patty’s 
frills and fal-lals. 

But she had convinced him that dainty laces 
and shining silver were to be used for his daily 
fare and not merely as ** company fixings,” and 

[41] 


Patty and Azalea 

being adaptable, the good-natured man obe- 
diently fell in with her wishes. 

And now he was as deft and handy with his 
table appointments as Patty herself, and quite 
free from self-consciousness or awkwardness. 

“ You’ve made me all over, Patty,” he would 
sometimes say; “ now, — I really like these dinky 
doo-daddles better than the ‘ old oaken bucket ’ 
effects on which I was brought up ! ” 

And then Patty would beg him to tell her more 
about his early days and his wild Western life 
in the years before she knew him. 

It was her great regret that Bill had no par- 
ents, nor indeed any near relatives. An only 
child, and early orphaned, he had lived a few 
years with a cousin and then had shifted for 
himself. A self-made man, — as they are styled, 
— he had developed fine business ability, and 
had also managed to acquire a familiarity with 
the best in literature. Patty was continually as- 
tonished by his ready references and his quota- 
tions from the works of the best authors. 

Indeed, the room he took the deepest interest 
in furnishing in their new home was the library. 

For the purpose he selected the largest room 
in the house. It had been designed as a draw- 
ing-room or ballroom; but Farnsworth said 

[42] 


Betty Gale 

that its location and outlook made it an ideal 
library. He had an enormous window cut, 
that filled almost the whole of one side of the 
room, and which looked out upon a beautiful 
view, especially at sunset. 

Then the furnishings were chosen for comfort 
and ease as well as preserving the dignified ef- 
fect that should belong to a library. The book 
cases were filled with the books already owned 
by the two and new ones were chosen and 
bought by degrees as they were desired or 
needed. 

The reference portion was complete and the 
cases devoted to poetry and essays well filled. 
Fiction, too, of the lasting kind, and delight- 
ful books of travel, biography and humour. 

There were reading chairs, arranged near 
windows and wdth handy tables; there were 
desks, perfectly appointed; racks of new books 
and magazines; portfolios of pictures, and cosy 
window seats and tete-a-tetes. 

There were a few fine pictures, and many little 
intimate sketches by worth-while pencils or 
brushes. And there were treasured books, val- 
uable intrinsically or because of their inscrip- 
tions, that Farnsworth had collected here and 
there. 

[43] 


Patty and Azalea 

Small wonder, then, that the library was the 
favourite room in the house and that after din- 
ner Patty proposed they go there for their 
coffee. 

“ Some room ! ” ejaculated Chick Channing, as 
they sauntered in and stood about, gazing at the 
wealth of books. 

“Glorious! ” agreed Mona, who had a mere 
pretence of a library in her own home. “ I 
didn’t know you were so literary, Patty.” 

“ Oh, I’m not. It’s Little Billee’s gigantic in- 
tellect that planned this room, and he’s the 
power that keeps it going. Every week he 
sends up a cartload of new books ” 

“ Oh, come, now, Patty, — I haven’t bought 
a book for a fortnight! ” laughed Farnsworth. 
“ But I’ve just heard of a fine old edition of 
Ike Walton that I can get at ” 

“ There, there, my son, don’t get started on 
your hobby,” implored Channing. “ We’re 
ignoramuses, Mona and I, and we want to talk 
about less highbrow subjects.” 

“ Count me on your side,” said a smiling girl, 
whose big gray eyes took on a look of awe at 
the turn the conversation had taken. u I don’t 
know if Ike Walton is a book or a steamboat ! ” 

The speaker was Beatrice Gale, a neighbour 

[ 44 ] 


Betty Gale 

of the Farnsworths. She was pretty and saucy 
looking, — a graceful sprite, with a dimpled 
chin, and soft brown hair, worn in moppy 
bunches over her ears. She was called Betty 
by her friends, and Patty and Bill had already 
acquired that privilege. 

“ Now, Betty,” and Patty shook her head at 
her, “ you are a college graduate as well as 
a debutante, — you must know old Ike ! ” 

“ But I don’t! You see, my debut meant so 
much more to me than my commencement, that 
all I ever learned at college flew out of my 
head to make room for all I’m going to learn in 
society.” 

“ Have you much left to learn? ” asked Elise, 
looking at the piquant face that seemed to show 
its owner decidedly conversant with the ways of 
the world, — at least, her own part in it. 

“ Oh, indeed, yes ! I only know how to smile 
and dance. I’m going to learn flirting, coquetry 
and getting engaged ! ” 

“ You’re ambitious, little one,” remarked Van 
Reypen. “ Have you chosen your instructors ? ” 

“ I’m sure you won’t need any,” put in Elise, 
who was already jealous of Philip’s interested 
looks at the new girl. 4< I think you could pass 
an efficiency examination already!” 

[45] 


Patty and Azalea 

“ You ought to know,” said Betty, with such 
an innocent and demure look at Elise, that it 
was difficult to determine whether she meant to 
be impertinent or not. 

“ Let me conduct the examination,” said 
Philip ; “ shall it be public, — or will you go 
with me into a — a classroom? ” and he looked 
toward the small “ den ” that opened from the 
library. 

“ Oh, have it public I” exclaimed Mona. 
“ Let us all hear it.” 

“ All right,” and pretty Betty smiled, non- 
chalantly. “ Go ahead, Professor.” 

“ I will. You know these examinations begin 
by matching words. I say one word, and 
you say whatever word pops into your head 
first.” 

“ That’s easy enough. Proceed.” 

“ Arden.” 

“ Forest. I always thought this place ought 
to have been named the Forest of Arden, be- 
cause ” 

“ Don’t talk so much. You must say one word 
only. Concentrate.” 

“ Silence.” 

“ Oh, concentrate wasn’t the word ! I said 
that to you ” 



[46] 


Betty Gale 

44 I thought you were talking to me all the 
time ! ” 

“lam. Now be still! Horse.” 

“ How can I pass my examination if I’m to 
be still? Wagon.” 

“ Aeroplane.” 

“ You.” 

44 How did you know that I was an aviator? ” 
44 Never mind; go on with the game.” 

“ All right. Beaux.” 

44 Flattery.” 

44 Chaperon.” 

44 Hoodwink.” 

44 Oh, you rascal ! Mother.” 

44 Father.” 

44 Father.” 

44 Money.” 

44 Soft-boiled egg.” 

44 Messy.” 

44 American Beauties.” 

44 Mr. Grant, — he often sends them to me.” 
“ Music.” 

44 Dancing.” 

44 You pass. Now for to see if you’re thor- 
oughly grounded in the common branches. 
Grammar, first. What’s a noun, and give ex- 
amples.” 


[47] 


Patty and Azalea 

“ A noun’s a name. As, candy, heart, slipper.” 

“ What’s a compound noun?” 

“ Two names, — as chicken salad, — Philip Van 
Reypen, — moonlight.” 

“What’s a mood?” 

“ Something you fall into, — as a ditch,— or 
love.” 

“ What is an article? ” 

“ A piece of fancy work for sale at a fair.” 

“ What’s a conjunction? ” 

“ Anything that joins, — as the marriage cere- 
mony, or hooks and eyes.” 

“ Good. Now for arithmetic. If you are at 
home of an evening, and a chap calls on you, 
and then I come to call, and take half your at- 
tention from him, what is left?” 

“The chap!” 

“Right! Now, definitions. What do you 
mean by forever? ” 

“Until to-morrow!” returned Betty, laugh- 
ing. 

“Never?” 

“ Not until to-morrow! ” 

“ How do you spell No? ” 

“Y-e-s.” 

“ Oh, Betty,” exclaimed Patty, laughing, “ I 
didn’t know you were so witty ! ” 

[48] 


Betty Gale 

“ Good gracious ! don’t call me that ! Here, 
stop this examination right now! I won’t be 
called witty. Why, don’t you know 

4 Though you’re sweet and though you’re 
pretty, 

Men won’t love you if you’re witty ! ’ 

I’m always afraid of not being loved ! ” 

Miss Gale looked so frightened at this very 
idea, that they all broke into laughter.” 

“You should worry! ” declared Bill. “You 
haven’t enough wit to do any great harm. Or, 
at least, if you have, you’ve compensating fool- 
ishness — I mean — that is ” 

“ There, there, Billee,” counselled Patty, 
“ you’d better stop, — you’re just getting in 
deeper with every word.” 

“ Oh, it’s all right,” and Beatrice shrugged 
her shoulders, “ I need to be brought up with 
a round turn now and then. I’m too intel- 
lectual, — I know.” 

She purposely assumed a vacant, stupid ex- 
pression and folded her hands helplessly in her 
lap. 

“ She’s a hummer,” Channing remarked in an 
aside to Patty, as further hilarity followed 
Betty’s fooling. 


[49] 


Patty and Azalea 

“ I like her lots,” Patty returned. “ She’s a 
frivolous little thing, but thoroughly sweet and 
dear. She adores Fleurette.” 

“ Aha, little mother! So that’s the way to 
your good graces, is it? I too adore Fleur- 
ette.” 

“ But you’re already in my good graces, — and 
have been for years.” 

“So? Then,” — Chick’s tone grew wheedle- 
some, — “ invite me up here often, — won’t 
you? ” 

“ Now I should have thought you meant be- 
cause of my daughter’s charms, if your glance 
hadn’t wandered toward Miss Gale, even as 
you spoke ! ” 

“ Both, fair lady, — both. I adore Fleurette 
as the delightful daughter of a delightful 
mother. May I not also admire the delightful 
neighbour? ” 

“ Indeed, you may. And you have a standing 
invitation to come up here as often as you like. 
I’m going to entertain a lot this spring and 
summer, — and you’re a really useful house 
guest.” 

“ Thanks, indeed ! How do I qualify ? ” 

“ By your nice, kind, entertaining qualities. 
You’re an all-round nice man, Chick, — and I 

[ 50 ] 


Betty Gale 

don’t care who knows my opinion. And now, 
do you go and make up to Elise.” 

“ Yes, ma’am. Between you and me, ma’am, 
— she’s a bit miffed — not? ” 

“Hush! Run along and make yourself 
so agreeable that she’ll forget everybody 
else.” 

Of a truth Elise was a little disturbed. For 
she was of a jealous and self-seeking disposi- 
tion, and resented any attentions that were not 
given to her. The advent of this bright and 
sparkling young girl, — probably three or four 
years younger than herself, made her suddenly 
feel neglected, and it displeased her. 

Mona noticed it, and smiled to herself. But 
Patty truly regretted it, for she had taken a 
decided fancy to Beatrice Gale, and as they 
were neighbours, she knew the girl would be 
often at Wistaria Porch. And as she had 
planned to have Elise with her often, also, she 
saw breakers ahead, unless the two could be 
reconciled. 

Patty was a born peacemaker, but she also 
knew that a jealous nature is not easily placated. 
And she foresaw that Philip Van Reypen would 
be the “ bone of contention.” 

After Patty’s marriage, Philip, a disappointed 

[51] 


Patty and Azalea 

suitor, had declared himself a confirmed bache- 
lor. And though Elise would have looked with 
satisfaction on his change of heart, it had not 
yet occurred. 

Patty had hoped, — and thought, — that Philip 
would marry her cousin, Helen Barlow; but 
neither of the parties had seen it in that light, 
and Helen had since married her long persist- 
ent wooer, Chester Wilde. 

This left Van Reypen entirely unattached, and 
Elise, — it could be seen by any onlooker, — was 
not at all averse to his company. 

And Van Reypen liked her, for Elise was 
pretty and charming. But when things didn’t 
go as she wished them to, she had a habit of 
sulking which was far from attractive. 

So, the very apparent interest that Philip 
showed in this new chit of a girl, — as Elise 
dubbed Betty to herself, — was as iron entering 
her soul. 

However, she was clever enough to hide her 
real feelings, and she welcomed Chick Chan- 
ning with a cordial smile. 

“ Let’s go for a stroll round the verandahs,” 
he proposed, and Elise consented. 

“ Want a wrap? though it’s warm for April,” 
he said, as they went out the door. 

[ 52 ] 


Betty Gale 

“ No, thank you, I love the fresh air,” and 
Elise waved her white arm upward, and 
entwined it in the wistaria blossoms. “ I’ve 
adopted this porch, — I shall probably be with 
Patty a lot this summer. You’ll come up — now 
and then? ” 

“ Oh, yes; it’s the most charming house to 
visit, don’t you think? ” 

“ Great! Patty is an ideal hostess, and Bill’s 
a dear!” 

“ And the kiddy, — don’t leave her out.” 

“ Oh, she’s an angel. But a bit unfledged, as 
yet.” 

“ Of course. But such a darling ! By the way, 
I’m her godfather.” 

“ Oh, are you? Then I’ll be her godmother! 
She ought to have both.” 

“ Certainly. Though I think I heard that 
Miss Gale has the position.” 

“ Of course she has ! That girl appropriates 
everything! I think she’s too fresh! ” 

“ You mean that for a compliment, I’m sure. 

Yes, she is, — she’s like a dewy daisy ” 

u Dewy daisy, nothing! She isn’t so childlike 
as she wants to appear ! ” 
il There now, Elise, don’t talk like that ! It 

[533 


Patty and Azalea 

doesn’t sound pretty, — and goodness knows 
you’ve no reason to be jealous.” 

“ What? ” asked Elise, already mollified. 

“ Why, you, with your established place in 
this household, and in our set, — mustn’t stoop 
to be — jealous — of a little schoolgirl! ” 

“ Oh, I’m not! How dare you hint it? ” 
“Then don’t act so. Take my advice, Lisa, 
and don’t show even the appearance of that 
sort of thing. It reacts, — you know.” 

Elise did know, — she knew Chick was telling 
her the truth, and telling it, too, only in the 
kindest spirit of real friendship. 

She bit her lip in annoyance, and said, sharply, 
“ Don’t abuse the privilege of an old friend, 
Chick.” 

“ I don’t mean to, — honest I don’t, Elise. 
Forgive me if I’ve offended you.” 

“ Oh, you haven’t. That’s all right. Have 
you ever met this Gale girl before? ” 

“ No; but she sat next me at dinner, and she 
told me about herself. It seems she has a 

wonderful brother ” 

“She has!” It was amazing how Elise 
brightened up. “ Why wasn’t he invited this 
evening? ” 

“He’s away from home just now, — will re- 

[54] 


Betty Gale 

turn next week, — I think she said. Get on your 
warpaint and feathers! See, the conquering 
heroine comes ! ” 

“ Stop teasing, Chick. I do like to meet 
strangers, and if Patty’s neighbour is attrac- 
tive ” 

“ Patty’s neighbour’s brother, — you mean? ” 

“I do! If he’s attractive, it’ll add to my 
pleasure when visiting Patty, — won’t it? ” 

“ It sure will, — and, may I say it? You’ll 
add to his pleasure, I’ve no doubt.” 

u Very pretty, Chick. You are a nice 
boy.” 

“ Thank you, ma’am. But I won’t be in it, 
when the brother appears on the scene, I fear! 
So, to make hay while the sun shines, won’t you 
go in and dance with me? I hear the light 
fantastics tripping in the hall.” 

They went in and found all of the party keep- 
ing time to the gay music of the big victrola, 
and they joined the swaying couples. 

As they passed Betty Gale and Van Reypen, 
Elise overheard her saying, “ You’re awfully 
good to me, — and you’ve only just met me to- 
night! ” 

Phil’s reply was lost as they danced away, but 
Elise realised that it was an eager expression 

[55] 


Patty and Azalea 

of his desire that they should meet again, and 
soon, and her demon of jealousy once more up- 
reared his ugly head. 

But she concealed it, — outwardly, at least, — 
and when the time came, she was so cordial and 
sweet to Miss Gale that a friendship pact was 
sealed between them. 


[56] 


CHAPTER IV 


A NEW RELATIVE 

M AY came in with the sunshine and balmy 
days that are popularly supposed to 
belong to that month, but which do 
not always materialise. 

Wistaria Porch was fairly basking in the sun- 
shine, and the flower gardens were already 
showing their early blooms. The tulip beds 
were a blaze of bright glory and hyacinths and 
daffodils added their sweetness and beauty. 

“ Such a heavenly place ! ” Patty exclaimed as 
she and Little Billee strolled along the garden 
paths in the late afternoon. “ Pm glad we have 
this week-end to ourselves, — I love to have 

guests, but once in a while, — you know ” 

“I do know!” declared Farnsworth, “and 

Pd be willing to have ’em twice in a while ” 

“Have what?” 

“ Week-ends alone with you ! Oh, I like com- 
pany, too, — have all you want, but now and 
then — just now and then, a family party looks 


Patty and Azalea 

good to me ! Where’s our blessed child at the 
moment? ” 

“ She ought to be here, — it’s time. Winnie 
usually brings her for her afternoon visit to 
her proud parents. And here she comes ! 
Here’s mudder’s own Poggly-woggly Pom-pom 
head!” 

“ What delightful names you invent! Let me 
have a try at it! Here’s Fodder’s own Piggly- 
winktum! There, how’s that?” 

“ Perfectly horrid! Sounds like a pig! ” 

“ All right, let’s try again. Who’s the airiest, 
fairiest, tiny mite? Who’s the pinky-goldiest 
Smiley-eyes in the whole world ? Here she is ! ” 
and big Bill took the baby from nurse’s arms, 
and flung her high in the air, catching her deftly 
on her descent, while Patty held her breath in 
apprehension. She knew perfectly well Bill 
wouldn’t let the child fall, — and yet, accidents 
had occurred, — and the crowing baby might 
squirm out of the watchful father’s arms. 

But no accident happened and the two had 
their usual afternoon romp. 

Little Fleurette knew her father and adored 
the big, comfortable man who held her so firmly 
and tossed her up so delightfully. 

“ Now, it’s my turn, — give her to me,” said 


A New Relative 


Patty, at last. Then Bill deposited the child 
in her mother’s arms, and the little one nestled 
there contentedly. She was a good baby, and 
rarely cried or fretted. Healthy and strong, 
she bade fair to become a fine big woman some 
day, and Patty’s leaping mind had already 
planned out her whole lifetime ! 

“ I think I’ll send her to the Mortimer 
School,” she said, musingly. 

u Why, that’s a finishing school ! ” exclaimed 
Bill, knowing of the fashionable establishment. 

“Yes; I mean when she’s ready to be ‘fin- 
ished,’ ” said Patty, calmly. “ Before that, 
she’ll go to Kindergarten, — and some other 
school, I suppose.” 

“ I suppose she will; but we’ll have a few years 
of her company here, at home, won’t we, before 
her schooldays begin? ” 

“ Yes, of course, we’re having them now. But 
they go so fast! Oh, Little Billee, all the days 
fly so fast, — I can’t realise we’ve been married 
nearly two years ” 

“Nonsense! A year and nearly two 
months ” 

“Well, it soon will be two years! I never 
saw the time fly so ! It goes like a Bander- 
snatch! ” 

[59] 


Patty and Azalea 

“ Does that mean you’re so happy, Patty? ” 

“It means exactly that! Oh, I want to live 
forever! I am so happy! I didn’t know life 
with you and Fleurette would be so beautiful 
as it is ! ” 

“Is it, dearest? I’m so glad,” and the big 
man looked at his dainty, sweet little wife with 
his whole soul in his fine clear blue eyes. 

“Your eyes are wonderful, Billee, dear,” said 
Patty, meeting his glance lovingly; “did your 
mother have blue eyes, — or your father?” 

“ Both of them did. I was thought to look 
more like mother, as a kiddy, — but they were 
both fair haired and blue eyed.” 

“ You never knew your mother much, did 
you? ” 

“ No, she died when I was very small. And 
father, when I was about ten. Then, as I’ve 
told you, I lived four years with Aunt 
Amanda ” 

“In Arizona?” 

“ Yes; in a small settlement, — hardly even a 
village, — called Horner’s Corners.” 

Patty laughed. “ What a darling name ! 
How could anybody call a place that ! Suppose 
it had grown to be a large city.” 

[6o] 


A New Relative 

“ Then they would probably have changed the 
name. Perhaps they have already done so, — 
I haven’t heard from there for years.” 

“ Why didn’t you keep up your relatives’ ac- 
quaintance? ” 

“ Well, Aunt Amanda died, later, and her 
husband never cared much for me, anyhow. So 
we drifted apart, and never drifted together 
again.” 

“ Wasn’t your aunt your mother’s sister? ” 

“ Oh, Lord, no ! She was not really my aunt, 
at all. She was a cousin of my father’s and 
when she took me in, I called her auntie. But 
they only took me because they wanted my help 
on the place, and I worked hard for them four 
years. They gave me no affection, nor even 
thanks for my services, and as I couldn’t learn 
anything or make any sort of progress in that 
God-forsaken valley, I left them and shifted 
for myself.” 

“And made a great success of the shifting! ” 
Patty’s eyes glowed as she looked at her big 
handsome husband. 

“ Yes, I found you ! And, incidentally that 
little flower of loveliness that’s going to sleep 
against your breast.” 

“So she is! Pretty thing!” Patty gazed 
[ 6l ] 


Patty and Azalea 

adoringly at the baby and then handed her over 
to the nurse, who returned for her charge. 

“ Tell me more about Horner’s Corners,” 
Patty resumed, as they remained seated on the 
porch, after Fleurette’s departure. 

“ Not much to tell. It consisted of a store and 
post-office, — a church and school, — and forty 
or fifty small houses. Uncle Thorpe’s place 
was a mile out from the Corners, proper, and 
I used to trudge back and forth every day for 
the mail, and for provisions. And part of the 
time I went to school. The teacher was a nice 
young girl, but we boys led her a dance ! How 
we did plague her!” and Bill laughed at the 
recollection. 

“ Any children in your aunt’s family? ” 

“One; a little baby girl, named Azalea.” 

“ What a pretty name ! Where is she now? ” 
“ I don’t know. Right there, probably. Let 
me see. I was ten when I went there. But 
she wasn’t born then. When I left, that child 
was about a year old, I guess. She must be 
about seventeen or so, now.” 

“ And she’s your only living relative? ” 

“ The only one I know anything about. 
Mother’s people were English, — none of them 
over here. No near relatives, anyhow, for she 
[62] 


A New Relative 

was an only child. Dad was, too, for that 
matter. Little Zaly, — that’s what they called 
her, is about the last leaf on the tree.” 

“Let’s ask her to visit us, can’t we? I do 
want to know your people; and if she’s all the 
people there are, I want to know her.” 

“ Why, child, I don’t know anything about 
her, — I don’t even know if she’s still in the land 
of the living.” 

“ Can’t you write and find out? ” 

“ Why, I suppose so. But why do you want 
her? She’s probably an awkward, countrified 
little thing ” 

“ I don’t care for that! She’s your kin, and 
I’m prepared to love her for that reason.” 

“ That’s a dear thing for you to say, Patty 
mine, but you may get more than you bargain 
for. Suppose you invite Azalea and Uncle 
Thorpe himself comes trotting along, too ! ” 

“Well, I could even live through that! I 
don’t suppose he’d bite me ! ” 

“ But I’m quite sure he wouldn’t fit into your 
scheme of things entire ! Oh, let sleeping dogs 
lie, Pattibelle. Take me for my whole family, 
— I’m a host in myself.” 

“ You are, — my lord and master, — you sure 
are ! But, all the same, I must hunt up your 

[63] 


Patty and Azalea 

little cousin. Of course her father can’t come, 
if he isn’t invited. And I’d like to know the 
child. I might do something for her, — be of 
some real help to her, I mean. Maybe she’s 
longing to get East and have the advantages 
I could give her.” 

“ Maybe she’s longing to stay put in her na- 
tive desert.” 

“ In that case, she can say so. I shan’t com- 
pel her to come ! Let me write her, anyway, 
mayn’t I, Little Billee? ” 

“ Of course you may. You may write to any- 
body you wish; to the Sultan of Kasharabad, 
if you like.” 

“ Is he your relative?” 

“ He may be, — for all I know. Some family 
trees branch widely.” 

“ Well, give me Azalea’s address, — I’m going 
to open a correspondence, at least.” 

“ No address, that I know of, except Miss 
Azalea Thorpe, Horner’s Corners, Ari- 
zona.” 

“ I’ll write, if only for the fun of addressing 
a letter there. I never heard such a funny name 
for a place ! ” 

Patty tore up two or three letters before she 
finally composed one that suited her. It was 

[64] 


A New Relative 

not easy to know what attitude to take toward 
such a complete stranger, and with no knowl- 
edge of what sort of a girl she was writing to. 
But she at last sent off this : 

My dear Azalea : 

I am the wife of your cousin, William Farns- 
worth. Though you do not remember him, 
your father will tell you about him. At any 
rate, as you are of his kin, I want you to come 
and make us a visit — that is, if you care to. 
We have a lovely home, not far from New 
York City, and I would do my best to make 
you happy and give you a good time. You 
may not want to come, — indeed, you may 
have moved away from your native town, and 
may never even get this letter. But if you do 
get it, write me, at any rate, and tell me what 
you think about a trip East. We both send 
love and hope to hear from you soon. 

Affectionately yours, 

Patty Farnsworth. 

“You see,” Patty explained to Bill, as she 
read the letter to him, “ it may be she can’t 
afford such a trip. But I didn’t like to hint at 
that, so I asked her to write me what she thinks 

[65] 


Patty and Azalea 

about it. If she thinks she can’t spend so much 
money, then we can offer to get her ticket.” 

“ Very thoughtful and very delicately done, 
my dearest. You have the kindest heart a little 
blue-eyed girl ever possessed.” 

“ Not entirely disinterested, though. I do 
want to have some of your people under our 
roof, — and this is my first attempt. If it fails, 
I shall look up some of your English relatives.” 

“ Yes, we will do that some day. I’d like to 
round them up myself. Mother’s tales of her 
childhood home,— as retold me by my father, — 
sounded delightful. They had old country 
estates, and ” 

“ And ancestral halls ! Hung with old arm- 
our ! Oh, Little Billee, what fun to take Fleur- 
ette there ! Portraits of her ancestors smiling 
down at her from the oaken walls of the long 
picture gallery ” 

“ Patty, Patty! how you do run on! I don’t 
know that there are any picture galleries at all.” 

“ Oh, of course there are. They’re bound to 
be there. And maybe a family ghost! 'A 
spectre, that stalks the corridors when one of 
the family is about to die ” 

“Hush! You bad child! What awful 
ideas ! ” 


[ 66 ] 


A New Relative 

“ I’ve just been reading a story about a family 
spectre. I think they’re most interesting.” 

u Well, we’ll cut out the spook show. Yve no 
liking for clanking chains and hollow groans ! ” 

Impatiently Patty waited for the answer to 
her letter, and one day it came. 

Farnsworth was in New York on business, and 
so she put it away unopened until his return. 

“ Goody girl ! ” he cried, when she told him. 
“ Nice of you, dear, to let us have the first 
reading together.” 

“ Oh, I couldn’t gobble it up alone, — I like 
everything better if I have it with you.” 

And so they sat side by side on the porch, and 
read the long looked for missive. 

“ Dear Cousin Patty; ” it began. 

I was so surprised and pleased to get your 
letter I hardly knew what to do. It seemed 
as if the dream of my life had at last come 
true. I’ve always wanted to go East, — to see 
New York, — oh, I’m so excited I can hardly 
write ! And dear Cousin William ! How 
kind of him to tell you about me, — for I was 
a very small baby when he was here. My 
father has told me all about it. When shall 

[67] 


Patty and Azalea 

I start? I accept your invitation with joy. I 
have saved up my money and I have enough, 

I think, for the ticket. How much does it 
cost? But I can find out somehow. Father 
sends his respects and he says I may go. I 
am all ready. Can’t you telegraph me, so I 
can go soon? 

With grateful thanks, 

I am yours very sincerely, 

Azalea Thorpe. 

“ Well,” said Bill, “ what do you think of that 
for a letter? ” 

He looked thoughtfully at Patty, as he 
spoke. 

“ Why,” she hesitated, — “ I think it’s a very 

nice letter ” 

“Wait, now, — be honest!” 

“Well, I — oh, I don’t know, — but I looked 
for a little more — simplicity, I guess. This 
sounds as if she had resorted to a ‘ Complete 
Letter-Writer’ for help.” 

“Just what I thought, exactly! But I don’t 
know as we can blame her if she did. The 
poor child is doubtless unversed in polite cor- 
respondence, and she did her best, — but she 
felt she needed a little more elegance of con- 
[ 68 ] 


A New Relative 

struction and so forth, and she picked out some 
dressy phrases from the book.” 

“ It doesn’t matter, anyway,” said Patty, gen- 
erously, “ she’s glad to come, and so I’m glad 
to have her. Let’s telegraph at once, — shall 
us? ” 

u Yes; but I don’t like that haste of hers. It 
strikes me queer.” 

“ Queer, how? She’s impatient to start, — 
that’s all. What else could it mean?” 

“ I don’t know, I’m sure. But the whole let- 
ter’s queer, — if you ask me ! ” 

u I do asl: you, — and I ask you how it’s queer.” 

“ It’s so, — so jumbly, — incoherent, — choppy.” 

“ Pooh ! don’t criticise the lack of style in that 
poor country child. I’ll teach her to write 
letters, — and I won’t let her know I’m teaching 
her, either.” 

“ You’ll teach her lots of things, — I know, — 
and in that dear, gentle way of yours, that 
couldn’t hurt or offend anybody. Well, I’ll tele- 
graph, then, for her to come ahead. What else 
shall I say?” 

“ Tell her what road to take, and all direc- 
tions you can think of. Though it sounds to 
me, as if she thought she would have no diffi- 
culty as to travel.” 


[69] 


Patty and Azalea 

“ Sounds that way to me, too; but I suppose 
her father can look after such details. Queer 
message from her father.” 

“Not at all. You said he wasn’t overfond 
of you, so as he sends his respects to you, I 
don’t think you need ask for more.” 

“ If she does start right off, — and I’m pretty 
sure she will, — she’ll be here in a week or so.” 

“Of course; but I’ll be ready for her. I’ll 
give her the yellow room. It’s big and sunny 
and has a lovely bath and dressing-room. It’s 
all in order, too, I’ll just make some soft lacy 
pillows and give it some little personal touches 
and it will be all ready for her. Oh, Billee, — 
think what a lot we can do for her ! ” 

Patty’s eyes glowed with the anticipation of 
aiding the little country girl, but Farnsworth 
was not so sanguine. 

“ You’re running a risk, girlie,” he said. 
“ Suppose she turns out impossible. The fact 
of her being my relative doesn’t quite canonise 
her, you know. Perhaps she isn't a saint.” 

“ Now, now, old calamity howler, — I don’t 
want her to be a saint! I hope and expect 
she’ll be a sweet, docile nature, and her lack 
of culture, if any, I shall try to remedy. Her 
lack of familiarity with social customs and all 

[ 70 ] 


A New Relative 

that, I know I can remedy. Oh, I expect a busy 
time with her, — and I know I shall have to be 
tactful and kind, — but don’t you think I can 
be?” 

Farnsworth kissed the wistful, questioning 
face upturned to his and assured her that she 
most certainly could! 

So Patty gaily set about her preparations of 
the pretty guest chamber. She hoped Azalea 
liked yellow, — most girls did, — but if not, she 
could easily be moved to the pink guest room. 

This yellow room, however, was so well 
adapted for a young girl. There was a long 
French window that opened on the dearest 
little balcony, w T here the wistaria clambered and 
made a delightful shade. There was an alcove, 
where stood a Chippendale writing desk, and 
a revolving book rack. There was a sewing 
corner, with a fully furnished w T ork-stand; and 
there was a soft puffy couch, with a pile of down 
pillows and a fluffy yellow afghan. And yet 
there was ample room for the bed, with its 
dimity draperies, and the fascinating toilet 
table, with its bewildering array of ivory fit- 
tings. 

Uncertain of her guest’s tastes, Patty put out 
few books, only a story or two of general in- 

[71 ] 


Patty and Azalea 

terest and a couple of new magazines. All such 
matters could be attended to after she had sized 
up the newcomer. 

On the day she was expected, Patty arranged 
the flowers in the yellow room herself. 

Naturally, she chose azaleas, and some of a 
lovely soft tint of buff harmonised with pale 
pink ones. White ones too, with a bit of green 
foliage, until the room was a bower of beauty. 
Not overdone, though. Patty never made the 
mistake of too many flowers, — fond as she was 
of them. 

A last affectionate survey of the room con- 
vinced her that all was exactly as it should be, 
and with a happy little sigh of contentment 
she went down to the porch to aw«it the arrival 
of the guest, for Farnsworth had gone to the 
station to meet her, and they were due now at 
any minute. 


CHAPTER V 


THAT AWFUL AZALEA 

T HE car came along the driveway and 
stopped in front of the porch where 
Patty sat. 

Farnsworth stepped out, with a cheery “ Here 
we are ! ” and Patty rose to greet the visitor. 

Up the steps toward her flew a figure which, 
as Patty afterward described it, seemed like a 
wild Indian! A slight, wiry figure, rather tall 
and very awkward, and possessed of a nervous 
force that expressed itself in muscular activity. 

“ Oh, how do you do ? ” the girl cried, ex- 
plosively. “ You’re Cousin Patty, — aren’t 
you?” But even as she spoke, she stumbled 
on the steps, pitched forward, falling on Patty, 
and but for Farnsworth’s quick action would 
have knocked her down. 

“ Jiminy crickets ! Ain’t I the tangle-foot ! 
Guess I’m getting in bad at the very start. 
Hope I didn’t hurt you.” 

“ Not at all,” said Patty, recovering her poise, 

[73] 


Patty and Azalea 

both mental and physical. “ You are very wel- 
come, Azalea. Will you sit here a few minutes 
before we go in the house? ” 

“ Sure ! I’ll spill myself right into this 
double-decker ! ” 

She threw herself into a long wicker lounging- 
seat, of the steamer-chair type, and stretched 
out her feet in evident enjoyment of the re- 
laxation. 

“ Well, this is comfort, after travelling cross 
country for days and days! I say, Cousin, it 
was awful good, of you to ask me.” 

“Think so?” and Patty tried to smile pleas- 
antly. She avoided catching Bill’s eye, for the 
poor man was overcome with shame and con- 
sternation that his relative should be so im- 
possible. 

“Yep, — I do. My! this place of yours is 
swell. I never saw such a grand house — close 
to. You’re rich, ain’t you, Cousin William?” 

“ So, so,” Farnsworth replied, gazing at the 
girl in a sort of horrified fascination. “ You’ve 
changed since last we met,” he went on, in an 
endeavour to make casual conversation. 

“ Well, yes, I s’pose so. They tell me I was a 
squalling young one when you were at the Cor- 
ners. Was I a terror? ” 

[743 


That Awful Azalea 

“ Not then ! ” Bill wanted to answer, but of 
course he didn’t. 

“ Not at all,” he said, pleasantly. “ You were 
a pretty baby ” 

“ But greatly changed, — hey?” 

The girl gave him a quick glance. She was 
not ill-looking, as to features and colouring, but 
her whole effect was unattractive, — even repel- 
ling. 

She had flashing black eyes, which darted 
from one object to another in a jerky, inquisi- 
tive way. Her scarlet lips parted over white, 
even teeth, but her lower lip hung, and her half- 
open mouth gave her an air of ignorance, often 
accompanied by rude staring. 

Her black hair was concealed by a coarse 
straw hat, untrimmed save for some gaudy flow- 
ers embroidered on the straw with crude 
coloured wools. 

“How do you like my hat?” Azalea asked 
suddenly. “ Just the shape of a horse’s hat, 
isn’t it? But it’s all the go. This dress is, 
too, — hope you like it, — I do.” 

The dress in question was a “ sport suit ” of 
a large-sized green and black check. It was 
cheap material, and badly cut, and its ill-fitting 
coat hung on Azalea’s slim shoulders in baggy 

[75] 


Patty and Azalea 

wrinkles. Her blouse was bright pink 
Georgette, beaded with scarlet beads, and al- 
together, perhaps her costume could not have 
been worse chosen or made up, — at least, from 
Patty’s point of view. 

She ignored the question about the hat, and 
asked the girl as to her journey. 

“ O. K.,” Azalea returned. “ Had a bang-up 
time. Made friends all along the line. Some 
of ’em coming to see me. Hope you’ll like 
’em.” 

She stretched out luxuriously in the long chair, 
throwing her arms above her head, and crossing 
her feet, which were dressed with “ gun metal ” 
stockings and shoes. Her hat was pushed 
awry, and wisps of hair fell at either side of 
her face. 

“ Now, perhaps you’d like to go to your 
room,” suggested Patty, at her wits’ end what 
to do with such an unconventional person. 

“ Nixy; I’m too comfortable here! I’ll chuck 
my hat, and just enjoy myself.” 

Off came the hat, and was pitched on the floor. 
Azalea ran her fingers through her hair, making 
it a little more disordered than before. It was 
pretty hair, — or, rather would have been, if it 
were better cared for. Dark, almost black, 

[76] 


That Awful Azalea 


with a slight inclination to curl, it was bunched 
into a tousled knot that was far from pictur- 
esque. 

“ Oh, come,” said Patty, jumping up, for she 
couldn’t stand the girl’s uncouth actions another 
minute. “ Come along with me, Azalea. You 
must dress for dinner soon, — and some one 
might come to call now. We’ll have tea in your 
room, if you like.” 

“ Tea ! I never drink it. I like coffee, — for 
breakfast, — or cocoa. But see here, Cousin, 
don’t you make any difference for me. I ain’t 
company, you know, — just let me be one of the 
family, won’t you? ” 

Many retorts flashed through Patty’s mind, 
but she only said, u Certainly, Azalea. We 
want you to be one of us.” 

Farnsworth was silent. The man was really 
aghast. What had he brought on poor little 
Patty! He didn’t excuse himself with the 
thought that it was Patty’s doing, not his, that 
Azalea was there at all, but he felt personally 
to blame for having such a relative and for 
having her there in their home. He looked 
helplessly at Patty, with such despair in his kind 
eyes, that she ran over and kissed him, in spite 
of the fact that they were not alone. 

[77] 


Patty and Azalea 

Azalea giggled. “ That’s right,” she said, 
affably; ‘‘don’t mind me! Just go right on 
spoonin’ even when I’m around. I don’t mind. 
And I don’t wonder you took to her, Cousin 
William. She’s a peach, for fair, — ain’t she? ” 

“ She certainly is,” said Farnsworth, forcing 
a polite smile, but conscious of a strong desire 
to choke his new-found relative. 

His utterly discouraged face roused Patty to 
fresh efforts at hospitality, and taking Azalea’s 
arm, she persuaded her to get up from the 
lounging chair. 

On her feet, the girl shook herself with a 
careless abandon of manner, unheeding the fact 
that a hairpin flew from her loosened hair, and 
she dropped the handkerchief, gloves and small 
bag that she had had in her lap. 

“ Oh, pshaw,” she said, as Bill restored them, 
“ain’t I awful! That’s me — dropping things 
all the time ! But I can pick them up myself 
— don’t you be bothering.” 

She stuffed gloves and handkerchief in the 
bag, slinging it on her arm. “ My, what a 
vine ! ” she said, pulling down a branch of the 
wistaria, — and, incidentally, breaking it off. 

“Oh, golly! Look what I done! Just like 
me ! But you’ve got plenty left.” She tossed 

[78] 


That Awful Azalea 

the broken branch out on the lawn, and then 
turned to follow Patty, already in the door- 
way. 

“I’m coming!” she said, “lead the way, 
Cousin, I’ll trail you. What a big house! 
Don’t you ever get lost in it? ” 

“ No,” smiled Patty, “ and you won’t as soon 
as you’re used to it. This way, Azalea.” 

“Hello! Hello! This my room?” The 
Western girl looked at the pretty yellow room 
as Patty ushered her in. 

“ Yes, if you like yellow, — if not ” 

“ Oh, yes, I like yellow good enough. Don’t 
make any diff to me what colour a room is. 
Nice and big, ain’t it? Say, do you care if I 
chuck some of the lace props into the discard? ” 
“ What do you mean? ” 

“ Why, these here, now r , faddly-duds.” And 
Azalea whisked off a little lace stand-cover, 
swept up an armful of lace pillows, and was 
about to jerk off the lace bedspread, when Patty 
protested. 

“ Oh, wait a minute, — of course you needn’t 
have anything you don’t want, — but Janet will 
take off the spread.” 

“ ’Fraid I’ll muss it up, hey? ” Azalea laughed. 
“Well. I s’pose I am a terror! But honest 

[79] 


Patty and Azalea 

to goodness I can’t stand for those ticklers. 
They get in my ears ! ” 

Patty sighed. She had grasped the situation 
the instant she first laid eyes on the girl, but 
somehow it seemed to be developing further 
difficulties all the time. 

“ Now, Azalea,” she began, “ let me help you 
get your travelling dress off and put you into 
your kimono, and we’ll chat over a cup of tea. 
Oh, you don’t like tea, — will you have lemon- 
ade?” 

“ Yep. Love it! Plenty of sugar, though.” 

Patty gave the order to Janet, who had ap- 
peared to look after the visitor, and turned 
back at the sound of Azalea’s loud, strident 
laughter. 

“ Kimono ! At six P. M. That’s good. 
Why, Cousin, I use my kirn for a dressing gown. 
I ain’t going to bed, — am I ? ” 

“ No, dear. But we’ll have a more cosy time, 
I think, if you get off your travel things and 
have a refreshing bath.” 

“ Oh, well, I’ll take off this rig, — I want to be 
choice of it, anyway. You have dinner at 
night?” 

“ Yes, we always do.” 

“Well, don’t make any change for me, as I 

[ 80 ] 


That Awful Azalea 

said. I ain’t accustomed to it, but I can stand 
it, I guess. Nothing fazes me!” 

Azalea took off her dress and looked at the 
skirt with concern. 

“ Some dusty,” she remarked, “ but it’ll brush 
off.” 

“ Oh, yes; lay it on that chair. Janet will look 
after it.” 

“ Brush it, you mean? ” 

“ Yes; clean it and press it properly.” 

“ My land! does your servant do that?” 

“ Certainly. And leave your street shoes out 
for her to attend to.” 

“ Oh, — I see! She’s a regular outfit! Well, 
I never had a maid, — but I guess I can stand 
one.” 

Janet re-entered the room at this moment, and 
with an attempted air of grandeur, Azalea 
flung herself into a low chair, and stuck out 
her foot to have her shoe removed. 

Patty gasped. The girl changed so quickly 
from independence to apparent helplessness, 
and yet her manner was so crude and overbear- 
ing, that it was doubtful how the maid would 
take it. 

However, Janet was not only a well-trained 
servant, but she adored her mistress and not 

[81 ] 


Patty and Azalea 

for worlds would she have failed in her duty. 

Quietly and respectfully she knelt before Aza- 
lea and took off her shoes and waited on her as 
she would have waited on any of Patty’s more 
cultured friends. 

“ Yes, put on a kimono, Azalea,” Patty said, 
this time in a decided tone, and Azalea obeyed. 

Then the tea tray was brought and the two sat 
together for a time. 

Patty was up against a crisis. She had been 
thinking deeply ever since Azalea’s arrival, and 
she was still perplexed. 

Should she try now to reform the girl, — im- 
prove her manners, or at least her general at- 
titude, — or, should she leave her to her own 
ways for a time, and trust to her observa- 
tion of other people to show her her own 
faults ? 

It was almost impossible not to correct some 
of Azalea’s ignorant mistakes, but still more 
difficult to ignore her over readiness to adapt 
herself to what she thought was the proper be- 
haviour toward servants. 

On the latter point Patty permitted herself a 
word when they were alone. 

“ Be a little careful with Janet,” she said, 


[82] 


That Awful Azalea 


pleasantly. “ She’s a bit peculiar as to dis- 
position. A splendid maid, and a most capable 
girl, — but she doesn’t like to be ordered about 
too definitely. You see, she knows her duties 
so well, and is so efficient, that it’s really un- 
necessary to give her directions.” 

“ Oh, pooh, she’s only a servant. You 
oughtn’t to stand for her airs. Why, our girl 
at home, — she was a Tartar! But I tamed 
her. I’ve a way with them ” 

“ Please, Azalea,” and Patty smiled ingratiat- 
ingly, “ remember, won’t you, that this is my 
house and these are my servants. I have my 
own ways of treating them, and I’m going to ask 
you to work with me, — not against me.” 

“ Dunno what you mean ! I’ve no notion of 
working against you, Cousin. And don’t you 
be high and mighty with me l We’ll get along 
all right, if you meet me half way, but ” 

Patty saw her chance. “ Good, Azalea ! 
There’s my hand on that! We’ll meet each 
other half way, and you consider my wishes and 
I’ll consider yours.” 

The danger point was passed and Azalea 
smiled again. 

u I want to see the baby,” she said suddenly. 
“ I love babies.” 


[83] 


Patty and Azalea 

“ To-morrow, please. She’s asleep now.” 

u Well, I can look at her. I won’t wake her. 
I’ll be awful careful.” 

This interest in Fleurette touched Patty’s 
mother heart, and she consented. 

“ Can I go this way?” said Azalea, looking 
at her kimono. 

This garment was, — not entirely to Patty’s 
surprise, — a horror of gaily flowered silkoline, 
but as they would see no one but the nurse, she 
said, “Yes; come along.” 

To the nursery they went and there, in her 
bassinette lay the baby, asleep. She looked like 
a lovely little flower, indeed, and Patty gazed 
with adoring eyes at the flushed little face. 

“ Oh ! ” cried Azalea, aloud, “ what an angel 
baby! ” 

“ Hush ! ” whispered Patty, “ don’t wake 
her ! ” and Nurse Winnie stood around in a 
state of nervous apprehension. 

“ No, I won’t,” Azalea said, in such a loud 
whisper, that it was scarce a whisper at all, — 
rather a muffled shout. 

And then she poked her forefinger into the 
baby’s roseleaf cheek. 

“Pretty! ” she said, beaming at the child. 

“Oh, don’t touch her!” Patty cried out. 

[84] 


That Awful Azalea 

lt Come away, Azalea ! ” for she really didn’t 
know what the strange girl would do next. 

“ Pshaw ! I didn’t hurt her. If she’s such a 
touch-me-not, she’s no fun at all! But every- 
body’s like that with their first baby! Silly! 
Fussy! Just ridiculous ! ” 

“ I daresay,” laughed Patty, determined not 
to show her annoyance. “ But it’s time to dress 
for dinner, — or nearly. Come back to your 
room, — and — wouldn’t you like to take a fifteen 
minute nap? It might refresh you.” 

“ It would not! Take a nap in broad daylight ! 
I never heard of such a thing! Oh, well, if I 
can’t speak to that kid let’s go back to my room. 
I’ll skittle into my frock and go down to 
that flowery, bowery piazza again. I like 
that.” 

“ What shall you put on?” asked Patty, in- 
terestedly, as Azalea made a mad dive into her 
trunk. 

“ Dunno. What say? This?” She held 
up a mussy looking white muslin, trimmed with 
coarse embroidery and some imitation lace. 

u That will do nicely,” Patty said, relieved 
that it was at least white, and not some of the 
flamboyant effects she saw still in the trunk. 
“ Janet will press it off for you, — it’s rumpled 

[85] 


Patty and Azalea 

from packing. And then you needn’t unpack, 
dear, Janet will do that for you.” 

“ Oh, I thought you told me not to call on the 
servant for anything ! ” 

“ No,” Patty said, discouraged, “ I didn’t 
quite say that, — here’s Janet now. Let her do 
your hair for you ! ” 

“ Do my hair ! Mercy gracious ! I should 
say not! I’ve never had that done for me.” 

“ But I’m sure you’ll be pleased with the 
way she’d do it. Janet is an artist at hair- 
dressing.” 

“ Nopy! nix on the barber act for little Zaly! 
I’ll comb my own wig, thank you ! ” 

With a comb, she stood before the cheval 
glass, and twisted up the dark mop into a tidy 
but most unbecoming coil. 

“ Don’t you care how it looks? ” cried Patty, 
in dimay. “ Really, don't you? And you’ve 
such pretty hair ! ” 

“ Then if it’s pretty hair, it doesn’t need any 
fancy doing,” and Azalea gave a whimsical 
smile. “ There, that’s done. Now for my 
frock.” 

Janet had whisked the white muslin away, and 
already had it back, pressed and freshened. 

“Lovely!” Azalea exclaimed; “how ever 

[ 86 ] 


That Awful Azalea 


did you do it so quick? Happen to have an iron 
on the stove ? ” 

“ Electric iron,” said Patty, briefly. “ They’re 
always handy, you know.” 

“ Never saw one. No, Miss Janet, — not that 
way, it hooks in the back.” 

At last, Azalea was attired, and looked fairly 
presentable in her white frock; though having 
no white shoes and, stockings she wore black 
ones. 

“ I’d like white ones,” she said, apologetically, 
“ but I could only have two pairs so I got black 
and the ones I wore here.” 

“Quite right,” said Patty, appreciatively; 
“ I’ll be glad to get you some white ones. 
They’d be pretty with this frock.” 

“ Oh, thank you. I’d love to have ’em. 
Where we going now? ” 

“ Suppose you come to my room, while I 
dress,” Patty suggested, thinking an object les- 
son in the arts of the toilette might not be 
amiss. 

“ O. K.,” and the visitor strode along by the 
side of her hostess. 

They were a contrast! Patty, dainty, graceful 
and sweet, was the very antithesis of tall, gawky 
Azalea, with her countrified dress and badly 

[87] 


Patty and Azalea 

made black shoes. Her careless air, too, was 
unattractive, — for it was not the nonchalance of 
experience, but the unselfconsciousness of sheer 
ignorance of urban ways and manners. 

“ My land ! what a room,” the country girl 
ejaculated, as they entered Patty’s boudoir. 
“ How ever can you live in this fancy place ! 
It’s like a picture ! ” 

“ It is,” agreed Patty, pleased at the com- 
ment. “ But I love it. I’m afraid I’m too 
fond of soft lights and pretty appointments, 
and delicate fragrance.” 

“ Well, you’ve got it! My land! I’m afraid 
to move around! I don’t want to break any- 
thing.” 

“ You won’t,” laughed Patty. “ Sit there, and 
we can talk while I get into my gown. I do my 
own hair, too,” and she shook down her mop 
of golden curls, to Azalea’s hearty admiration. 


[ 88 ] 


CHAPTER VI 


TABLE MANNERS 

P ATTY’S dining-room was beautiful. She 
argued that as an appreciable percent- 
age of one’s waking hours were spent 
there, care and thought should be given to its 
appointment. 

The colouring was soft old blue, and the 
furniture of mahogany. The lights were pleas- 
antly shaded and the sideboards and cabinets 
showed attractive silver and glass in immaculate 
order. 

“ The flowers are in your honour,” said Patty, 
smiling, as they took their places at the table, 
in the centre of which was a bowl of azaleas. 

“Ho, ho! You needn’t have done that! I 
ain’t accustomed to such grand things.” 

“ Now, Azalea, flowers on the table aren’t 
especially grand. I think I should have them, 
e — if I could, — if I were eating in the middle of 
the Desert of Sahara.” 

“ I believe you would,” said Bill, smiling at 

[89] 


Patty and Azalea 

her; “Patty is a flower-worshipper, Zaly. 
Zaly’s the name your mother called you when 
you were a tiny mite. Tell me about your 
father? Was he willing to be left alone?” 

“ Oh, — he didn’t mind. What lovely silver 
you have, Patty.” 

“ Yes; they are my wedding presents.” 

“ Oh, tell me all about your wedding ! ” 

“ I didn’t have any. I mean, not a big recep- 
tion and all that. We were married in haste, — 
so we could have a chance to repent at leisure, 
— if we want to.” 

“And do you?” asked Azalea, with such a 
serious air that the other two laughed. 

“ I haven’t had leisure enough for that yet,” 
Bill declared. 

“ And I don’t know what leisure means,” Patty 
said. “ I’m busy from morning till night. If 
we ever get any leisure, — cither of us, — per- 
haps we’ll begin on that repentance perform- 
ance.” 

But Patty’s happy face, as she turned it toward 
her husband, left little doubt as to her state of 
satisfaction with her life. Though, as she said, 
she was always busy, it was by her own wish, 
and she would have been miserable if she had 
had nothing to do. 

[ 90 ] 


Table Manners 

Azalea, as Bill expressed it later to Patty, was 
a whole show ! 

The girl was ignorant of manners and cus- 
toms that were second nature to her hosts, and 
was even unacquainted with the uses of some 
of the table furniture. 

But this they had expected, and both Patty 
and Bill were more than ready to ignore and 
excuse any lapses of etiquette. 

However, they were not prepared for Aza- 
lea’s attitude, which was that of self-important 
bravado. Quite conscious of her shortcomings, 
the girl’s nature was such that she preferred to 
pretend familiarity with her strange surround- 
ings and she assumed an air of what she con- 
sidered elegance that was so funny that the 
others had difficulty to keep from laughing out- 
right. 

She was especially at great pains to extend her 
little finger when she raised a glass or cup, hav- 
ing evidently observed the practice among peo- 
ple she admired. This finally resulted in her 
dropping the glass and spilling water all over 
her dinner plate. 

“Hang it all!” she cried; “ain’t that me! 
Just as I get right into the swing of your hifalu- 


Patty and Azalea 

tin ways, I go and upset the applecart ! Pshaw ! 
You’ll think Pm a country junk ! ” 

“ Not at all,” said Patty, kindly, “ ’twas an 
accident that might happen to anybody. Norah 
will bring you a fresh plate. Don’t think of it.” 

“ No, I won’t have a fresh plate. I’m going 
to keep this one, to serve me right for being so 
awkward.” And no amount of insistence would 
persuade the foolish girl to have her plate 
changed. 

“Nonsense, Azalea!” Farnsworth remom- 
strated, “ you can’t eat that chicken, floating 
around in a sea of potato and water! Don’t 
be a silly ! Let Norah take it.” 

“ No, I won’t,” and a stubborn look came into 
the black eyes. But in the meantime, Norah 
had attempted to remove the plate, — carefully, 
not to spill the water. 

Azalea made a clutch at it, and succeeded in 
overturning the whole thing, — and the food 
fell, partly in her lap and partly on the pretty 
tablecloth. 

“ Never mind,” said Patty, gaily. “ Leave it 
all to Norah, — she’ll do a conjuring trick.” 

And sure enough, the deft waitress whisked 
the details of the accident out of sight, spread 
a large fresh napkin at Azalea’s place, set 
[ 92 ] 


Table Manners 

another plate for her, and was passing her the 
platter of chicken almost before she realised 
what was going on. 

“Well, I never !” she exclaimed; “that was 
some stunt! Say, I’m sorry, Cousin Patty, — 
but I’m a little kerflummixed, — and I may as 
well own up to it.” 

“Oh, don’t be that!” Patty laughed, care- 
lessly. “ Forget the past and enjoy a piece of 
hot chicken. It’s real good, — isn’t it?” 

“ It’s great ! I never tasted anything like it ! ” 
Whereupon, Azalea took in her fingers a wing 
and, with both elbows on the table, proceeded 
to enjoy it in her own informal way. But both 
little fingers were carefully extended at right 
angles to the others. She glanced at them now 
and then, to make sure. 

Her equanimity restored by Patty’s kindliness 
and tact, the girl lapsed into what was, doubt- 
less, her customary way of eating. She dis- 
played undue gusto, smacked her lips at the 
appearance of a dainty dish and when the des- 
sert proved to be ice cream, she rolled her eyes 
ceilingward, and patted her chest in a very 
ecstasy of anticipation. 

It was too much for Farnsworth. He appre- 
ciated Patty’s patience and endurance, but he 

[93 ] 


Patty and Azalea 

knew just how she felt. And it was his cousin 
who was acting like a wild Indian at their 
pretty home table ! 

“ Azalea,” he said, — Norah had left the din- 
ing-room, — “who brought you up? Your 
mother died some'years ago. With whom have 
you lived since ? ” 

“ Why, — oh, — only with Papa.” 

“ But Uncle Thorpe, — I remember him well, 
— was a simple soul, but he was a quiet, well- 
behaved man. Why didn’t he teach you to be 
more restrained in your ways, — especially at 
table? ” 

“ Restrained? Oh, you mean I eat too much ! 
Well, I have got a big appetite, but to-night I 
guess I’m specially hungry. Or else your eats 
are specially good! You don’t mind how much 
I eat, do you, Cousin Patty?” 

“ Of course she doesn’t,” Farnsworth went on, 
trying to look severe but obliged to smile at 
Azalea’s total unconsciousness of any wrong 
manners on her part. “ But she does care if 
you behave like a ‘ wild and woolly,’ although 
she’s too polite to say so ! ” 

“Wild and woolly nothing! I’ve been awful 
careful to crook out my finger, — and that’s the 
very reason why I upset the tumbler ! ” 


Table Manners 

“ That’s true,” agreed Patty, “ and so, Zaly, 
suppose you discontinue that habit. It isn’t 
done this year.” 

“ Honest? That so? I’d be mighty glad to 
quit it! ” 

“ Do, then,” put in Bill. “ And while we’re 
on the subject, you won’t mind if I go into it a 
little more deeply, — will you? ” 

“ What do you mean? ” 

“Well, for one thing, they don’t put elbows 
on the table this season as much as formerly.” 

“ Pooh! I know that! I didn’t mean to, — 
but I forgot. I guess I know how to behave, — 
if I don’t always do it! ” 

“ I’m glad you do, Zaly, — and, listen, dear, 
you’re my relative, you know, and I’m going 
to ask you to try to use your knowledge, — for 
Patty is too polite to mention such subjects! ” 

“ Oh, I don’t mind! Pick on me all you like, 
— either of you. I suppose there are some 
frills I’m not onto, — but I’m quick at catchin’ 
on, — and I’ll get there, Eli ! ” 

Norah returned then, and the subject was not 
continued. Coffee was served in the library 
and the small cups excited Azalea’s scorn. 

“Skimpy, I call it!” she cried. “And 
where’s the milk? ” 


[95] 


Patty and Azalea 

“ You may have cream if you wish it, Azalea,” 
said Patty, a little tired of smiling. “ Norah 
will bring some.” 

“ Oh, let me get it,” and Azalea jumped up. 
“ I remember, Patty, you told me not to trouble 
the servants too much.” 

“ Sit down! ” Farnsworth said, in a tone that 
made Azalea jump. “ Wait for Norah to 
bring it.” 

“ Oho! you believe in making the lazy things 
work, don’t you ! What’s the use of hiring a 
dog, and doing your own barking? That’s 
right!” 

Patty struggled with her annoyance, overcame 
it, and making a gesture to Bill to keep quiet, 
she warded off his angry explanations, and took 
the situation in her own hands. 

“ Here’s cream, Azalea ,” she said, as the maid 
reappeared, “ many people like it in after din- 
ner coffee, and you’re very welcome to it.” 

“ Licking good! ” was the verdict, as Azalea 
stirred her coffee, and drank the tiny cupful 
at one draught. “ The sample’s fine ! I’ll take 
a regular sized cup, please.” 

“ For breakfast,” smiled Patty. “ That’s all 
we serve at night. Are you fond of music, 
Azalea? ” 


[96] 


Table Manners 

“ You bet ! Why, we’ve got some records that 
are just bang-up ! ” 

“ I remember Uncle Thorpe was quite a 
singer,” said Bill; “ do you sing, too? ” 

“Not so’s you’d notice it! My voice is 
like ” 

But the description of Azalea’s singing voice 
was interrupted by the entrance of two young 
people. Betty Gale and her brother Raymond 
stepped in at the open French window, and 
laughingly announced themselves as daring in- 
truders. 

“ Very welcome ones,” declared Patty, jump- 
ing up to greet them, and then Farnsworth in- 
troduced Azalea. 

“ You’re the real purpose of our visit,” said 
Betty, her charming little face alight with gay 
welcome. “ We adore our neighbours, and 
they simply worship us, — so we’re quite pre- 
pared to take any friends or relatives of either 
of them into our hearts and homes.” 

“ My! ” said Azalea, unable to think of any 
more fitting response, and taking Betty’s out- 
stretched hand, with her own little finger care- 
fully extended. 

Betty Gale’s eyes opened wide for a fraction 
of a second, then she as quickly accepted the 

[97] 


Patty and Azalea 

situation, and said, cordially, “ Pm sure we shall 
be friends. And you must like my scapegrace 
brother, too, if only for my sake.” 

“ At first,” supplemented Raymond, as he 
stepped toward Azalea, “ but as soon as you 
know me better, you’ll love me for myself 
alone, — I feel sure of that! ” 

“My!” said Azalea again. Her bravado 
deserted her in the presence of these two merry 
visitors. They seemed so at ease, so knowing, 
so carelessly polite, that Azalea felt as if they 
were beings from some other sphere. The 
Farnsworths, she knew, made allowance for 
her because she was a guest in their household, 
but these people seemed to expect her to be 
like themselves, and she suddenly realised she 
couldn’t be as they were. 

A strange contradictory streak in her nature 
often made her assume an accomplishment she 
did not possess, and now, knowing she couldn’t 
chat in their lively fashion, she took refuge in 
an attitude of bold hilarity, and talked loud and 
fast. 

“ I’ll love you, if you make love to me good 
and proper,” she said, with a burst of laughter. 
“ But I’ve got a beau back home, who’ll go for 
you, if he knows it ! ” 

[98] 


Table Manners 

“ Oh, we’ll keep it secret,” returned young 
Gale; “ I’m awfully good at keeping secrets 
of that sort! Trust me. And it shall be my 
earnest endeavour to cut out said beau. Meet 
me half way, won’t you? ” 

“Yes, indeed, and then some! I’m a great 
little old halfway meeter, you bet! ” 

“I’m sure of it!” Gale was laughing now. 
“ Let’s go out on the verandah and talk it 
over.” 

“ Don’t trust him too implicitly, Miss 
Thorpe,” warned Betty; “ my brother is a first- 
grade scalawag, — and I want you to be fore- 
warned ! ” 

“ There, there, Sis, I’ll do my own forewarn- 
ing. Come along, Miss Thorpe, we’ll sit under 
the spreading wistaria tree.” 

The two disappeared, and there was a mo- 
ment’s silence, and then Patty said, 

“ Our cousin is from Arizona, and it’s hard 
for her, at first, to adapt herself to our more 
formal ways. It must be great out there, — all 

wide spaces, and big, limitless distances ” 

“God’s country!” said Farnsworth, who al- 
ways had a love for his Western wilds. 

“ Nix ! ” cried Betty, “ I’ve been there, and it’s 
just one cactus after another! ” 

[99] 


Patty and Azalea 

“ Well, cactuses are all right, — in their place,” 
said Patty, smiling. “ They’re as much verdure 
as maples or redwoods.” 

“ Quite different kind of verdure,” said Betty. 
“ Now, Patty, I want to do something for your 
cousin, — right away, I mean, to help you launch 
her.” 

“ Oh, no, Betty; you’re awfully kind, but ” 

“ Yes, I shall, too. I’m your nearest neigh- 
bour, and it’s my right. I suppose you’ll give 
her a luncheon or something, first, and then I’ll 
follow it with a tea, or a dance, or whatever you 
like. There’ll be lots of things for her later 
on, so I want to get my bid in first. How 
pretty she is.” 

“ You’re a darling, Betty,” cried Patty, en- 
thusiastically, touched by her friend’s kindness, 
“ but, — well, there’s no use mincing matters, — 
I’m not sure Azalea is quite ready to be pre- 
sented to society.” 

“ Oh, but your cousin ” 

“ Indeed she isn’t!” put in Farnsworth, “I 
want you to understand that she’s my cousin, — 
not Patty’s. And, also my wife’s quite right, 
— Azalea is not ready for social functions, — 
of any sort. You see, Betty, we can’t blink the 
facts, — she’s of the West, western, — in the least 
[ IOO ] 



“ I’m not sure Azalea is 

QUITE READY TO BE PRE- 
SENTED TO SOCIETY ” 



















$ 



Table Manners 

attractive sense. I’m fond of my home, and 
unashamed of my people, but all the same, I’m 
not going to have Patty embarrassed by the 
ignorance and awkwardness of an untutored 
guest. And so here’s where I set my foot down. 
We accept no invitations for Azalea until we 
think she is in trim to make a correct appear- 
ance in society.” 

“ Oh, Cousin Bill, I overheard you and I think 
you’re just horrid!” Azalea came running 
back into the room, while Raymond Gale 
followed, evidently in a dilemma how to act. 

“ Cousin Patty would let me go, I know, and 
I want to go to Miss Gale’s to a party! Just 
because I upset a glass of water at dinner, 
you’re mad at me ! It isn’t fair ! I think you’re 
real mean ! ” 

The girl went up to Farnsworth and almost 
scowled at him as she awaited his response. 

But he looked at her steadily, — even sternly. 

“ Of course it must be as Patty says,” he told 
her, at last, “ but I will say, Azalea, that I’m 
surprised at you ” 

“Why should you be surprised at me? You 
invited me to come and see you. If I’m not 
good enough to visit you, I’ll go home again. 
You didn’t ask me any questions, — you just said 
[ IOI ] 


Patty and Azalea 

come along, — and I came. I ain’t a swell, — 
like these friends of yours, — but I am your 
cousin, and you’ve got no right to scorn me ! ” 

“ That’s so, Bill,” Patty said, seriously; “ and 
here’s another thing. Betty has met Azalea 
now, — she knows just what she is. If she still 
cares to ask her to her house, I shall approve 
of her going. I want to do all I can for our 
cousin, and there’s no better way to teach 
people to swim, than to throw them into the 
water ! ” 

“ Bully for you, Cousin Patty! ” Azalea cried, 
her eyes snapping at Bill. “ I’m not so bad as 
I might be, and I’ll do just what you tell me.” 

“ I’m sure you will,” agreed Betty, and Farns- 
worth looked at her appreciatively, feeling a 
deep sense of gratitude at the way she was 
helping Patty out. 

“ It seems hard on you, Azalea,” he went on, 
“ to talk of you like this, — as if you were not 
present, — but it is so. You need, — I’m not 
going to hesitate to tell you, — you need a thor- 
ough training in matters pertaining to polite 
society. Unless you are willing to accept our 
teachings and do your best to profit by them, — 
I am going to send you back home ! For much 
as I want to be kind and helpful to my young 
[ 102] 


Table Manners 

cousin, — I will not even try, if it makes my wife 
any trouble or embarrassment.” 

“ Oh, pshaw, Little Billee, — leave Azalea to 
me, — I can manage her.” 

“ You can’t, Patty, without her cooperation 
and willingness. Will you promise those, Aza- 
lea? ” 

“ Sure I will ! I’m a great little old promiser, 
— I am! ” 

“ And will you keep your promises? ” 

“You bet! I don’t want to go home when 
I’ve just got here ! And if my learning things 
is my meal ticket, — then I’m ready to learn.” 

Farnsworth sighed. He had had, as yet, no 
chance to talk to Patty alone, since their misfit 
visitor had arrived. He had been firmly re- 
solved to send her home again, — until now, that 
Patty and Betty seemed willing to take her 
in hand. If they were, it would be a great in- 
justice to the Western girl not to give her the 
chance to learn refinement and culture from 
those two who were so well fitted to teach her. 

And, anyway, — he continued to muse, — per- 
haps Azalea’s worst faults were superficial. If 
she could be persuaded to amend her style of 
talk and her gauche manners, perhaps she was 
of a true fine nature underneath. His Uncle, 
1 103] 


Patty and Azalea 

— so-called, — and his Aunt Amanda, he re- 
membered as kindly, good-hearted people, of 
fair education, though lacking in elegance. 

“ Oh, don’t take it so seriously,” cried the 
vivacious Betty, as she noted Farnsworth’s 
thoughtful face : “ leave the little girl to us for 
a few weeks, — and you will be surprised at the 
result! You’ll do just as I tell you, — won’t 
you, Azalea? ” 

“ If you tell me the same as Cousin Patty,” 
was the reply, and the strange girl gave Patty 
a look of loyalty and admiration that won her 
heart. 

“ That’s right, Zaly, dear,” Patty cried, 
“ you’re my girl, first, last and all the time ! 
And we’ll both do as Betty says, — because she 
knows it all ! She knows lots more than I do.” 

“ Indeed I do ! ” and the saucy Betty laughed. 
“.Well, then, I’ll arrange for a dance for Aza- 
lea very soon. Do you dance ? ” 

“ I don’t know,” replied Azalea, “ I never 
tried.” 


c 104] 


CHAPTER VII 


MYSTERIOUS CALLERS 

B IG Bill Farnsworth came into the nurs- 
ery, where Patty was playing with the 
baby. It was the nurse’s luncheon hour, 
and Patty always looked after Fleurette then. 

“ Take her, Daddy,” Patty cried, holding up 
the soft, fragrant little bundle of happy human- 
ity, and Farnsworth grasped the child in his 
strong careful way, and tossed her up high 
above his head. 

The baby laughter that followed proved 
Fleurette’s delight in this performance, and she 
mutely insisted on its repetition. 

“ Azalea does that,” said Patty, in a troubled 
tone, “ she is strong and very athletic, I know, 
but I can’t bear to see anybody toss baby around 
but you.” 

“ No; Azalea oughtn’t to do it, — she is strong, 
but she isn’t careful enough. Don’t allow it, 
Patty.” 

“ I do forbid it, but she comes in here when 

[ 105 ] 


Patty and Azalea 

I don’t know it, — or she picks baby out of her 
carriage, Winnie says, and tosses her clear up 
and catches her again.” 

“ I’ll speak to her about it; why, she’ll drop 
the child some day! She must not do it! ” 

“ I wish you would speak to her,” Patty 
sighed. “ Azalea is really a trial. I don’t know 
what to do with her. Sometimes she is so sweet 
and docile that I think I’m teaching her to be 
a civilised person, and then she flies off at a 
tangent and she’s as unruly and intractable as 
she was at first.” 

“ How long has she been here now? ” 

“ Nearly a month. I’ve tried and Betty has 
tried, — and, yes, Azalea has tried herself, — 
but we can’t seem to ” 

“ Camouflage her! ” 

“ That’s just it! I want her to look like the 
background she’s against here, — and she 
doesn’t!” 

“ I should say not! Last night at dinner she 
threw herself back in her chair and yawned 
openly ” 

“Openly! It was all of that! I saw her, 
— across the table through the flowers. And, 
Billee, — she’s queer — that’s what she is, — ■ 
queer! ” 


[ 106 ] 


Mysterious Callers 

“Have you noticed that, too? Yes, she is 
queer, — here take this Little Flower. She’s 
nearly asleep.” 

“ So she is, — give her to me, — there, there, 
mudder’s pressus, — petty poppity, — yes, she’s 
queer! ” 

“Who? Fleurette? ” 

“ You know very well I don’t mean Fleurette ! 
I mean that Pride of the West, — that stranger 
within our gates, — that thorn in the flesh, — that 
awful Azalea ! ” 

“ Meaning me?” and Azalea herself popped 
her head in at the nursery door. 

“ Yes,” replied Farnsworth, imperturbably, 
“ meaning you. Come in, Azalea, I want to 
speak to you. When have you heard from 
your father? ” 

“ Let me see — about a week ago, I think.” 

“ Will you show me the letter? ” 

“ Why, how inquisitive you are ! What do you 
want to see it for? ” 

“ I’d like to read it. I suppose it isn’t distinctly 
a private letter.” 

“ N-no, of course not. But, the truth is, — I 
haven’t got it.” 

“ What did you do with it? ” 

“ I — I tore it up.” 


Patty and Azalea 

“ Was it unpleasant? ” 

u No, but as I had answered it, — I didn’t need 
to keep it.” 

“What was in it? Tell me, — in a general 
way.” 

“ Oh, — it said — he hoped I was well, — and 
he — he hoped you were well, — and ” 

“ And he hoped Patty was well ! and he hoped 
the baby was well, — yes, — and after those 
polite hopes, what else did he say? ” 

“ Why, — why, I don’t know, — I guess that was 
about all.” 

“ Oh, it was ! Why didn’t he tell you some- 
thing about himself? What he was doing, — 
or going to do? ” 

“ I don’t know. Papa isn’t very much of a 
letter writer.” 

“ Well, he used to be ! It was his special forte. 
I’ve had letters from him a dozen pages long. 
I don’t believe he’s outgrown his bent of letter 
writing. Now, listen, to this, Azalea, the next 
letter you get from him, I want you to show it 
to me, see? If there’s anything in it you don’t 
want me to know about, cut that out, — but show 
me at least the beginning and the ending, — and 
a part of a page. You hear me?” 

“Of course I hear you, — not being deaf! 
[ 108 ] 


Mysterious Callers 

And I’ll show you the letter, — if I think of it.” 

“ You’ll think of it, — I’ll see to that, myself. 
You ought to get one soon, oughtn’t you? ” 

“ No, — I haven’t answered his last one yet.” 

“ Why, you just said you had ! ” 

“ Oh, I meant the one before the last ” 

“ You meant nothing of the sort. And, mind 
you, Azalea, this is a direct command, — you 
must show me his next letter.” 

“ I won’t take commands ! How dare you? You 
have no right to order me about so. I hate you ! ” 

“ Don’t talk so, Zaly,” Patty said, gently. 
“ Cousin Bill isn’t asking anything out of the 
way. There’s no reason you shouldn’t show 
him your father’s letter, — in part, at least, — is 
there now? ” 

“ N — no, — but I don’t want to.” 

“ Of course you don’t,” put in Bill, “ and for 
a very good reason ! ” 

“ What reason? ” cried Azalea, her black eyes 
flashing. 

“ You know as well as I do.” 

“I don’t!” 

“ Very well, say no more about it now, — only 
remember I want to see the next one.” 

Azalea flounced out of the room, very angry, 
and muttering beneath her breath. 

[ 109] 


Patty and Azalea 

“What in the world, Little Billee, are you 
getting at?” asked Patty, as she cuddled 
Fleurette into her shoulder. 

“ There’s something queer, Patty, something 
very queer about that girl! ” 

“ You’ve oft repeated that assertion, Sweet 
William, — just what do you mean by it? ” 

“What I say, Faire Ladye! There’s some- 
thing rotten in the state of Denmark, — there is 
that!” 

“ But why are you so anxious to see her fath- 
er’s letters? ” 

“ They’re part of the queer element. Have 
you ever seen her get one, — or read one from 
him? ” 

“ Not that I definitely remember; but she may 
easily have read them right before me, and I 
not have known it.” 

“ But wouldn’t she be likely to read a word or 
two, — or deliver some polite message he might 
send? ” 

“ I should think so, — but she never has.” 

“ That’s the queerness.” 

“ Oh, do tell me, dear, what you’re getting 
at! Do you think Mr. Thorpe is dead, — and 
she never told us? There’d be no sense in 
that! ” 


[ no] 


Mysterious Callers 

“ Not a bit! It’s something queerer than 
that.” 

“ Do you think he’s married again? ” 

“ Queerer than that.” 

“ Will-yum Farnsworth, if you don’t tell your 
own wife what you mean, I’ll never speak to you 
again! There!” 

“ At risk of that awful condition of things, I 
-won’t tell you just yet. But you do this. Here’s 
something you can do toward solving the mys- 
tery, — and I can’t. Find out for sure, — don’t 
ask her, but see for yourself,— if Azalea gets a 
letter from Horner’s Corners addressed in a 
big, bold Spencerian hand. I remember Uncle 
Thorpe’s handwriting perfectly, and it’s unmis- 
takable. I’ve not seen it since Azalea came.” 

u Goodness, do you call it a mystery? ” 

“ I do, indeed. You’ll find out it’s a pretty 
startling mystery, or I miss my guess.” 

“ Well, Azalea is a handful, I admit, but I 
think she’s good at heart, and she is devoted to 
my booful little Fleury-floppet ! My own Dolly- 
winkums, — who looks prezackly like her 
Daddy-winkums ! ” 

“ Patty, you’ll go to the lunatic asylum some 
day, if you let yourself talk such gibberish! ” 

“ Listen to him, Baby mine, my flubsy-dubsy, 
[ III ] 


Patty and Azalea 

— my pinky-poppy-petal, listen to your dreadful 
Dads! Isn’t he the ” 

“ The what?” and Farnsworth strode across 
the room and took his wife and child both into 
his big bear-like embrace. 

“The dearest, sweetest man in the world!” 
Patty said, laughing but nearly smothered in his 
arms. 

“ All right, you’re excused,” and he let them 
g°- 

Nurse Winnie came then and took Fleurette, 
and the two elder Farnsworths went down- 
stairs together. 

They heard voices on the wistaria porch, and 
soon saw that Azalea was entertaining two 
guests. 

They were strangers, and not very attractive 
looking people. 

“Shall we step out there?” Farnsworth 
asked. 

“No,” decreed Patty; “let her alone. It’s 
probably those people she picked up on the 
train coming here. She has spoken of them to 
me. Don’t let’s go out, or we may have to 
invite them to stay to dinner, — and judging 
from this long distance view of them, I don’t 
care specially to do so.” 

[ 1 12 ] 


Mysterious Callers 

11 No. I don’t either; the man looks like a 
drummer and the woman like a ” 

44 A chorus girl ! ” said Patty, after one more 
peep at the stranger. 

Leaving Azalea to entertain her friends with- 
out interruption they went out on a porch on the 
other side of the house. And soon Raymond 
Gale sauntered over from his home next door 
and joined them there. 

44 Some strong-arm, your Azalea guest,” he 
said, in the course of conversation. 

44 Yes,” agreed Patty, a little shortly. 

44 She was over in our gym, this afternoon, 
and she put up as fine an exhibition of stunts 
as I’ve seen in a long time.” 

“What sort of stunts?” asked Bill. 

44 All sorts, from lariat or lasso work to hand- 
springs and ground and lofty tumbling. That 
girl’s been trained, I tell you ! ” 

“ Trained in a school? ” 

“ No: her work is more as if self-taught, — or 
coached by a cowboy. She hails from Arizona, 
doesn’t she ? ” 

“ Yes. Here she is now; I hear you’re an 
athlete, Zaly.” 

44 Only so-so,” the girl replied, half-absently. 

“ Have your friends gone? ” asked Patty. 

[ 113] 


Patty and Azalea 


“ Yes.” 

“ I recognised them,” began young Gale : 
“they were ” 

Azalea turned to him quickly. “ Don’t you 
say who they were ! ” she cried, emphatically. 
“ I don’t want you to ! Don’t you dare mention 
their names! It’s a secret! ” 

“ Oh, all right, I won’t. Don’t take my head 
off ! ” Ray Gale laughed carelessly, and pre- 
tended to be afraid of the excited girl. 

“ Why, why, Zaly,” said Patty, “ who can your 
friends be that you won’t tell their names? I’m 
surprised! ” 

“ Their names are — are Mr. and Mrs. 
Brown,” said Azalea, with a defiant look at 
Raymond, who merely opened his eyes wide 
and said nothing. 

It was quite evident that Brown was not the 
name of the people who had called on Azalea, 
and Patty could not imagine what reason there 
could be for the girl to tell such a false- 
hood. 

“Is that the right name, Gale?” asked Bill, 
briefly. 

But Raymond Gale only shook his head. 

“ Miss Thorpe says so,” he replied, “ surely 
she ought to know.” 

[ 114] 


Mysterious Callers 

The subject was dropped and not resumed 
until after Gale had gone home. 

Then Farnsworth asked Azalea who her 
friends were who had called. 

“ I told you they were Mr. and Mrs. Brown,” 
she said, glibly. “ I met them on the train com- 
ing from the West, and we got quite well 
acquainted.” 

“ But their name is not Brown,” Bill said, 
quietly, “ tell me what it is, — or, tell me why 
you don’t want to divulge it.” 

“ It is Brown,” persisted Azalea, but the way 
she spoke and the way her eyes fell before 
Farnsworth’s steady gaze, belied her words. 

“ I’m sorry, but I can’t believe you,” he said. 

“ I can’t help that,” she returned, pertly, and 
ran away to her own room. 

“ What’s she up to now? ” said Patty. 

“ Part of the queerness,” Bill vouchsafed, and 
said no more about it. 

The next day, Azalea went to her room di- 
rectly after breakfast, and, locking the door, 
remained there all the morning. 

At luncheon she was quiet, and absent-minded, 
and as soon as the meal was over she went back 
to her room. 

[IIS] 


Mysterious Callers 

It was nearly five o’clock, when Patty, puzzled 
at such actions, tapped at Azalea’s door. 

“What’s the matter, dear?” she called, 
through the closed door, as there was no re- 
sponse to her knock. 

“ Nothing; let me alone! ” came Azalea’s im- 
patient voice. 

“ Are you ill? Don’t you feel well? ” 

“ Let me alone. I’m all right.” The tone 
was ungracious, and there was no mistaking the 
import of her speech, so Patty went away. 

At dinner time Azalea appeared. She wore 
the same frock she had worn all day, and Patty 
looked at her in amazement. Apparently she 
had been working hard at something. Her hair 
was rumpled, her collar awry, and her whole 
appearance untidy and unpresentable. 

“ Have you been busy? Patty said; “ couldn’t 
you get time to dress?” 

“Forgot it!” muttered Azalea. “Sorry. 
Shall I go back and dress?” 

Patty hesitated. It would, of course, delay 
dinner, which was already announced, — and, 
too, in Azalea’s present state of pre-occupation, 
she might fall to work again, and not come to 
dinner at all. 

So Patty said, “ No, come as you are,” and 
[ 116] 


Mysterious Callers 

she gave Azalea’s hair a touch, and pulled her 
collar straight. 

Farnsworth watched the “ queer ” girl all 
through dinner. Azalea had improved some- 
what in manners, though her notions of table 
etiquette still left much to be desired. 

To-night she was unlike herself. She an- 
swered in monosyllables when spoken to, and 
paid no attention to the conversation of the 
ethers. 

“ I expect my friend Elise Farrington to- 
morrow,” said Patty; “ I’m sure you’ll like 
her, Azalea.” 

“Will she like me?” said the girl, indiffer- 
ently. 

“ If she doesn’t, it will be your own fault,” and 
Patty took advantage of the opportunity for a 
word of warning. “ Elise is a person of strong 
likes and dislikes. If you try to be real nice and 
courteous she will certainly like you, and if 
you’re rude and blunt, I don’t believe she will. 
Do you care, Azalea, whether she does or 
not? ” 

“ No,” said Azalea, calmly, and Patty gave 
a sigh of despair. What was the use of trying 
to help a girl who acted like that? 

Farnsworth, too, shook his head, and glanced 

1 117] 


Patty and Azalea 

at Patty with a sympathetic smile, and then 
they talked together to the entire exclusion of 
Azalea, who was so wrapped in her own 
thoughts that she didn’t even notice them. 

Not waiting for coffee, when the others went 
to the library, Azalea, with the briefest “ good- 
night,” went up to her room, and again locked 
her door. 

“What does ail her?” exclaimed Patty, as 
she and her husband sipped their coffee. 

“ I don’t know, — but I’m going to find out. 
Any letter from her father to-day? ” 

“No; I looked over her mail. Oh, it does 
seem awful, to look inquisitively at another’s 
letters ! ” 

“It’s necessary, dear, in this case. There’s a 
big mystery about Azalea Thorpe, and we must 
solve it, or there’ll be trouble ! ” 

“ I wish you’d tell me all about it.” 

“ I will, soon. Trust me, darling, I’d rather 
not say what I suspect, until I’ve a little more 
reason for my suspicion. It’s too incredible ! 
And yet, — it must be so! ” 

“ All right, my True Love. I can wait. Now, 
listen, and I’ll tell you of the marvellous 
achievement of your daughter to-day! ” 

And Farnsworth listened with all his heart to 
[ 1 18 ] 


Mysterious Callers 

the amazing tale of Fleurette’s intelligent obser- 
vation of a red balloon. 

The next day Elise came. 

“ Here I am ! ” she cried, as she stepped 
from the motor, and flew into Patty’s embrace. 
“ Where’s your eccentric cousin I’ve heard 
about? But first, where’s my godchild? I’ve 
brought her the loveliest presents ! Let me at 
her! ” 

“ All right,” said Patty, laughing at her im- 
patience, “ come right along to the nursery 
before you take your hat off.” 

The two went to the nursery, and Patty softly 
opened the door. But the room was empty. 

“That’s funny,” Patty said, u Winnie always 
has baby here at this hour. She takes her 
morning nap about now. Where can they be ? ” 

The bassinette was disordered, as if the child 
had been taken from it, and Patty looked at it 
in amazement. She ran around to several ad- 
joining rooms, and returned, with a frightened 
face. 

“ Elise, there’s no sign of Baby or Winnie 
anywhere ! What does it mean ? ” 

“ Goodness ! 7 don’t know ! Did the nurse go 
down to see her beau, — and take the baby with 
her?” 


[ 119] 


Patty and Azalea 

Just then Nurse Winnie appeared: “Here’s 
the food, Mrs. Farnsworth,” she said, show- 
ing a bowl of steaming white liquid. “ It’s all 
ready.” 

“ What food? ” said Patty, mystified. 

“ Miss Thorpe came here fifteen minutes ago, 
and said you ordered me to a make a bowl of 
prepared food, — that Fleurette was not get- 
ting enough nourishment.” 

“ Why, I did nothing of the sort! Where is 
Miss Thorpe? And where is the baby? ” 

“ I don’t know,” and Winnie looked as if she 
thought Patty was crazy. “ Don’t you know,, 
ma’am?” 


[ 120 ] 


CHAPTER VIII 


MISSING I 

E LISE gave one glance at Patty’s white, 
scared face and one glance at Nurse 
Winnie’s red, frightened face, and then 
she herself began to scream. 

“ Stop that, Elise ! ” Patty cried, “ it’s bad 
enough to have my baby kidnapped, without 
your yelling like a Comanche! Hush, I tell 
you ! ” 

But Elise wouldn’t, or couldn’t hush. The 
word “ kidnapped ” upset any composure she 
may have had left, and she burst into hysterical 
sobbing. 

“ Of course,” she said brokenly, between sobs, 
“she’s kidnapped! You and Bill are so — so 
wealthy and grand — she’s just the child the kid- 
nappers would pick out for ransom — and ” 

“ Don’t — don’t, Elise,” begged Patty, her 
voice shaking; u I don’t believe she’s kidnapped 
at all. It’s far more likely Azalea took her 
[ 121 ] 


Patty and Azalea 

out for a ride or something. She’s crazy over 
the baby and she always wants to have her to 
herself, but, she says, Winnie won’t let her.” 

“And indeed not!” spoke up the nurse. 
“ Miss Thorpe, — she tosses the child about in 
a way that’d fair curdle your blood! That she 
does ! ” 

“That’s true,” said Patty. “You see, Bill 
pitches baby around just as he likes, and so 
Azalea thinks she may do the same.” 

“ Then she did do that, — and she dropped her, 
• — and maybe killed her ! ” 

Elise voiced her new theory with a fresh burst 
of grief, and the idea struck a chill to Patty’s 
heart. She took no stock in the kidnapping 
theory, for Winnie had left the child with 
Azalea, who would have fought off a horde of 
marauders before she let them carry off the 
little one. No, whatever had happened was 
doubtless Azalea’s doing. But Elise’s notion of 
an accident to Fleurette might come somewhere 
near the truth. 

“ Of course that’s it,” Elise went on, excitedly. 
“The idea of a girl throwing a baby about! 
What did she do, Winnie? I mean did she 
let go of her? ” 

“ Oh, yes, ma’am ! She often would throw 
[ 122] 


Missing! 

Fleurette clear up in the air and catch her as 
she came down.” 

“ She is athletic,” conceded Patty. “ Over at 
the Gales’ gymnasium she does all sorts of 
stunts. But I don’t want her doing them with 
my baby ! ” she broke down, and cried piteously. 

“ Sometimes,” vouchsafed Winnie, “ Miss 
Azalea would toss the baby into the bassinette, 
instead of laying her down. She always pitched 
her straight in, — and baby liked it! You see, 
Miss Thorpe was very gentle with the child, 
and never missed her aim. But I was fair 
frightened to watch her.” 

“ You ought not to have allowed it, Winnie,” 
Patty said, severely. “ Why didn’t you tell 
me, if you couldn’t make Miss Thorpe stop it? ” 

“ Miss Thorpe told me you wanted her to do 
it, ma’am. She said it was good exercise for 
the child, and, — you know her father does it, — 
and, — begging your pardon, — Miss Thorpe is 
even more skilful than Mr. Farnsworth.” 

“Well, — it’s his baby!” defended Patty. 
“ Oh, Winnie, suppose an accident did happen, 
— and Miss Thorpe hurt Fleurette in some 

dreadful way, — and ” 

u And ran away, in sheer fright! ” suggested 
Elise. 

c 123 ] 


Patty and Azalea 

“No: she’d be more likely to run to the 
doctor’s. Our doctor lives near here. I’m 
going to telephone him — I’m ’most sure Azalea 
would do that.” 

Doctor Marsh was not in, but his office boy 
said he had not had any call from Azalea by 
telephone or in person. 

Patty was quite calm now. Her efficient self 
had risen to the emergency and she was quickly 
considering what was best to do. 

“ I’m going to telephone Bill,” she said, as if 
thinking aloud, — “ but first, I’m going to call 
up the Gales, and see if Zaly could have taken 
Fleurette over there. You know Azalea is 
utterly lawless, — it’s impossible to imagine 
what she will do. Oh, Elise, you’ve no idea 
what we go through with that girl ! She is a 
terror! And yet, — well, there is something 
about her I can’t help liking. For one thing, 
she’s so fond of Fleurette. If she has hurt her, 
— well, Azalea would just about kill herself! ” 

A telephone call to the Gales’ produced no 
information as to the whereabouts of Azalea 
or the baby. Betty replied that she hadn’t 
seen any one from Wistaria Porch that day, 
and was thinking of coming over to call. 

“ Don’t come just now,” said Patty, half- 

[124] 


Missing! 

absently, and then she hung up the receiver 
without further words. 

“ Well, I think I’ll have to call up Bill,” she 
said, at last. “ You see, he’s fearfully busy 
today, with a specially important matter, and 
he probably won’t be in his own office, anyway. 
And I hate to intrude on a directors’ meeting, 
— that is, if there’s no necessity. And yet, — 
it seems as if I must! ” 

“ Oh, do,” cried Elise; “you really must, 
Patty! Why, Bill would reproach you if you 
didn’t.” 

So Patty called Farnsworth’s office. Bill’s 
business consisted of varied interests. He was 
a consulting engineer, he was a mining expert, 
and he was still connected with government 
work. So, frequently, he could not be found 
in his office, though he usually left word where 
Patty could get in touch with him. 

But in this instance it was not so. The con- 
fidential secretary gave Patty the address 
Farnsworth had left with him, but when she 
called that he had already gone from there. 

With long-suffering patience, Patty called 
number after number, hoping to find Farns- 
worth at some of the likely places she could 
think of. 


1 125 ] 


Patty and Azalea 

But number after number brought no results, 
— and Patty turned from the telephone in de- 
spair. 

“ Well, Elise,” she said, forlornly, “ you 
might as well go to your room, and get your 
hat off. Come on, I’ll go with you, — and I 
may think of something else to do about Baby. 
For the present I seem to be at my wits’ 
end.” 

Of course, in the meantime the nurse and 
the other servants had searched the house and 
grounds, — but there was really no chance of 
finding Fleurette that way. 

It was all too certain that Azalea had taken 
her away somewhere. And it might be all 
right, — it might be that Azalea had merely 
taken the child out for a walk. She had been 
known to do this, — but never before without 
Patty’s sanction. Of late, though, Patty had 
objected to it because she feared that Azalea 
might not return quickly enough. Twice she 
had been gone for two or three hours, and 
though the baby seemed all right, Patty didn’t 
approve of the performance. 

“ That’s it,” she summed up, after telling 
Elise of this; “you see, I haven’t approved of 
such long absences and so Zaly just walked off. 
[126] 


Missing! 

Of course, she sent Winnie down for the food, 
in order to get a chance to put on Baby’s things, 
and depart unseen.” 

“ But she told the nurse you ordered the food 
prepared.” 

“ Yes. I may as well own up, Elise, that 
Azalea is not strictly truthful.” 

“ Why do you have her around? I think she’s 
horrid ! ” 

“ Well, you see, / got her here. To be sure, 
she is Little Billee’s cousin, — that is, second 
or third cousin, — once or twice removed ” 

“ I wish she was removed from here, — once, 
twice and all the time ! ” declared Elise. “ Bill 
had no business to inflict her on you ! ” 

“ He didn’t. He fairly begged me not to 
invite her here. But I insisted on it. You see, 
we neither of us had any idea of what she was 
like. Bill hadn’t seen her since she was a baby, 
and she was different then ! ” 

“ I s’pose so ! Well, having found out how 
* different ’ she is now, why don’t you send her 
home? ” 

“ Oh, I can’t. And, to tell you the truth, 
Elise, I want to help the girl. She’s ignorant 
and inexperienced, but she has a sort of native 
quickness and wit, and I feel sure if I could 
[127] 


Patty and Azalea 

teach her for a while, she could learn to be one 
of us, — and in time become a fine woman.” 

“ Oh, you philanthropist ! And meantime she 
has run off with your baby! ” 

“ The baby carriage is gone, Mrs. Farns- 
worth,” said Winnie, appearing suddenly. “ So 
I expect Miss Thorpe took baby in that.” 

“ Yes, probably,” said Patty, despairingly. 
“ Oh, Elise, this suspense is driving me crazy! 
If I knew that Zaly had her, — and if I knew 
nothing had happened, I’d feel so relieved. 
But suppose she did break Fleurette’s little 
arm or leg ” 

“ Or back! ” put in Ejise; “you must not let 
her pitch the baby around! It’s criminal! ” 

“ But you don’t know how deft she is. Why, 
she’s almost a contortionist herself. She can 

turn handsprings and ” 

“ I don’t care if she’s the greatest acrobat 
the world ever saw ! There’s always chance of 
an accident! And with a baby, you never 
know. Suppose Fleurette squirmed out of her 

grasp, just as she ” 

“ Oh, hush ! Elise, you drive me distracted ! 
It can f t be anything like that! ” 

“Yes, it can! I hope it isn’t, but do let this 
be a lesson to you, Patty! Don’t ever allow 
[128] 


Missing! 

that girl to see the baby again, — much less 
touch her! I think you and Bill must have 
taken leave of your senses to give her such 
freedom! Why, you don’t deserve to have 
that heavenly baby ! ” 

“ That’s so, Elise, I don’t! ” and Patty broke 
into a flood of tears. “ My little flower! My 
precious own baby! How could I ever let 
Azalea touch her? But, Elise, Zaly loves her 
as much as we do.” 

“ That may be, — and of course, she wouldn’t 
harm the child wilfully. But, as I said, ac- 
cidents will happen, — and if it’s Bill’s fault, 
why, — of course, it’s his own child, — and that’s 
different. But Azalea has no business to take 
chances with other people’s children.” 

“ I know it, and if she only brings her back 
this time in safety, — I’ll never let her see Fleur- 
ette alone again ! ” 

All that afternoon Patty suffered agonies of 
suspense. Now she would cry uncontrollably, 
— and again, she would sit, still and dry-eyed, 
waiting for some sound of Azalea’s arrival. 

But no rolling wheels of the baby coach 
greeted her ears, nor any little crowing notes 
of glee from her baby’s lips. 

Several times she tried again to reach Farns- 
[129] 


Patty and Azalea 

worth by telephone, — but always unsuccess- 
fully. 

At last the long hours wore away, and Farns- 
worth came home. 

Patty flew to greet him, and was instantly 
wrapped in his big embrace. 

“Well, Patty -maman” he said, as he kissed 
her, “how’s things today? I had to go over 
to Philadelphia, on a flying trip, — wish I could 
have flown, literally, — and hadn’t even time to 
let you know. Then, Rollins told me you had 
called up several times, — so I skittled home to 
see what it’s all about.” 

His big, cheery voice comforted Patty, and 
her trouble suddenly seemed easier to bear, 
with his help near. 

“ Oh, Little Billee,” she cried, “ Azalea has 
run off with Fleurette.” 

“Good gracious, you don’t say! But how 
much better to have Zaly do the kidnapping 
than some professional abductors! Hello, 
Elise, glad to see you ! When did you arrive ? 
This morning? ” 

“No; this afternoon. But, Bill, this matter 
is serious. Azalea took the baby away, on the 
sly.” 

“ That’s like her! Azalea has sly ways. And 

[ 130 1 


Missing! 

more than that, — she has queer ways ! It won’t 
do, Patty, there’s something wrong, — very 
wrong, — about the girl. Did she get a letter 
to-day? ” 

“ No ; not this morning. I forgot to look this 
afternoon.” 

“ What do you mean?” asked Elise, her 
curiosity aroused. “ Do you keep tab on her 
letters, Patty? ” 

“ Yes; I’m ordered to by my lord and master. 
He thinks ” 

“ Never mind, dear, drop the subject now. 
I’ve a good reason, Elise, for watching the 
letters, — not mere idle curiosity. Now, Patty, 
for details. What do you mean by taking the 
baby on the sly ! ” 

So Patty told him how Azalea had ordered 
the baby’s food prepared, saying Patty has 
asked her to do so.” 

“ H’m, h’m, — looks bad. But don’t worry, 
little mother, I’m sure nothing has happened 
to our Little Flower, — I mean nothing of an 
accidental nature. Azalea is exceedingly fond 
of the baby, and I can easily imagine her want- 
ing to take her for a ride this beautiful after- 
noon. It’s perfectly wonderful out ! There’s a 
soft breeze and the air is delightful — = — ” 

[ 131 ] 


Patty and Azalea 

“ But why didn’t she ask me? ” cried Patty. 

“Afraid you’d say no!” and Farnsworth 
smiled. “ You know, you’ve not been overly 
gracious of late about Azalea taking baby out.” 

“ I know it, but I had my own reasons.” 

“ And quite right you should have. But, 
don’t worry, I’m sure the two wanderers will 
turn up all right.” 

Farnsworth’s hearty assurance went far to re- 
lieve Patty’s fears and when Elise suggested a 
bad fall, he only laughed, and said, 

“No-sir-ee! Zaly is a terror, and a trial in 
lots of ways, but if she had let that child fall, 
she would have called Patty and Winnie and 
the whole household for help, and would have 
run for the doctor herself! She never would 
have run away! Not Azalea! She’s no cow- 
ard, — whatever other unpleasant traits she may 
possess.” 

“That’s so,” agreed Patty; “and she truly 
loves the baby. No, Elise, nothing like that 
happened, — I’m sure. I see it as Bill does, 
now. It is a heavenly day, — and Zaly felt 
pretty sure I wouldn’t let her take Baby out by 
herself, without the nurse, — and she does love 
to do that, — and so she sneaked off, and made 
up that yarn about the food in order to get 

[ 132] 


Missing! 

Fleurette’s hat and coat on! Oh, she’s a ma- 
noeuvrer ! ” 

“ Well, I’m glad you both feel that way about 
it,” said Elise; “of course you know the girl 
better than I do, — as I’ve never even seen her! 
but if she’s such a strong-arm, I think I’m 
rather afraid of her! ” 

“ Oh, I imagine you can hold your own against 
her ! ” laughed Patty, happy now, since Bill’s 
reassurance of her darling’s safety. “ All the 
same, I wish Zaly would come home ! It’s after 
six! Come on, Elise, let’s dress for dinner, 
and then that will be done.” 

They went to their rooms, and soon Patty was 
all dressed and had returned to her post of 
vantage on the wistaria porch, to look for the 
return of the lost ones. And at last, through 
the gathering dusk, she saw a baby carriage 
being propelled along the roadway. 

“ Here we are ! ” cried a voice, which Azalea 
tried hard to make casual, but which showed 
in its quality a trace of apprehension. 

“ Oh ! ” Patty cried, and without another 
word flew down the steps, and fairly grabbed 
her baby. 

The child was asleep, but Patty lifted her 
from the pillows and gazed into the little face. 

[ 1.33 ] 


Patty and Azalea 

Apparently there was nothing wrong, but the 
golden head cuddled down on Patty’s shoulder 
and the baby slept on. 

“ She’s tired,” vouchsafed Azalea, “ but she’s 
all right.” 

“ Where have you been?” asked Farnsworth 
sternly, as he came out of the front door. 

“ Just for a walk,” said Azalea, trying to 
speak pertly, but quailing before the accusing 
blue eyes fixed upon her. 

Patty said no word to the girl, but holding 
Fleurette close, went at once to the nursery 
with her. 

“She’s all right, Winnie, isn’t she?” the 
mother asked, anxiously. 

“ Yes, ma’am, — I think so, — but she’s a little 
too droopy for mere sleepiness.” 

“ Droopy! what do you mean?” 

“ It may be nothing, — Mrs. Farnsworth, — it 
may be only that she’s tired out and very 
sleepy, — but she acts a mite as if she’d 
been ” 

“ Been what? Speak out, Winnie ! What do 
you mean? ” 

“ Well, — she acts to me like a baby that’s had 
something soothing — some drops, you know.” 

“ Something to make her sleep? ” 

[134] 


Missing! 


“ Yes, ma’am.” 

“ Oh, nonsense ! Miss Thorpe couldn’t give 
her anything like that ! And why would she ? 
Don’t you make any mistake, Winnie, Miss 
Thorpe adores this baby! ” 

“ I know it, she does, Mrs. Farnsworth, but 
all the same, — look at those eyes, now.” 

Patty looked, but it seemed to her that the 
blue eyes drooped from natural weariness, and 
assuring herself that no bones were broken or 
out of place, she drew a long sigh of relief 
and told Winnie to put Fleurette to bed as 
usual. 

The nurse shook her head sagely, but said no 
more of her fears. 

Patty returned to the porch where Farnsworth 
was still talking to Azalea. Apparently he had 
scolded her sharply, for she was crying, and 
that with Azalea Thorpe was a most unusual 
performance. She usually resented reproof 
and talked back in no mild-mannered way. But 
now she was subdued and even frightened of 
demeanour, and Patty knew that Bill had done 
all that was necessary and further reproaches 
from her were not needed. 

“And another thing,” Farnsworth was say- 
ing, “ I want to know why you have had no 

[ 13s] 


Patty and Azalea 

letters from your father since I asked to see 
one, — that was two or three weeks ago ! ” 

“ I have had one,” Azalea answered, sullenly* 
“ I had one this morning.” 

“ Let me see it,” demanded Bill, and Azalea 
went up to her own room and returned with 
the letter. 

There was no envelope on it, and Farnsworth 
opened the folded sheet and read: 

My dear Child: 

I received your last letter and I am very 
glad you are having such a nice time. It must 
be very pleasant at the grand house where you 
are staying, — and I suppose you are getting 
grand too. I am very lonesome without you, 
but I am willing, for I want you to have a 
good time and get improvement and all that. 
Remember me kindly to Cousin William and 
his wife. I like to hear you tell about the 
baby. She must be a fine child. I am well, 
and I hope you are, too. With much affec- 
tion, from your loving 

Father. 

“ Where’s the envelope?” asked Farnsworth, 
as he raised an unsmiling face to Azalea. 

1 136] 


Missing! 


“ I tore it up.” 

“Why?” 

“ I always do, — I never save envelopes. It 
was just a plain one.” 

“ Address typewritten? ” 

“ Yes.” 

“ All right, Zaly. Here’s your letter,” and 
he handed it back to her. 


[ 137] 


CHAPTER IX 


VANITY FAIR 

T HE Farnsworths made no difference in 
their treatment of Azalea, after her 
escapade. Bill had scolded her severely 
for taking the baby away without leave, and 
sternly forbidden her ever to do so again, and 
the girl had promised she would not. 

Patty had said nothing to her on the subject, 
feeling that she could best keep Azalea’s friend- 
liness by ignoring the matter, and she was 
trying very hard to teach the girl the amenities 
of social life. 

And Azalea was improving. She behaved 
much better at table and in the presence of 
guests. Patty rejoiced at the improvement and, 
as she took strict care that Azalea should have 
no opportunity to see Fleurette alone, she 
feared no repetition of those anxious hours 
when the baby was missing. 

Elise rather liked the Western girl. They 

[138] 


Vanity Fair 

became good friends and went for long strolls 
together. Elise was a good walker, and Azalea 
was tireless. 

One day they had gone a long distance from 
home, when suddenly Azalea said, “ I wish 
you’d stay here a few minutes, Elise, and wait 
for me.” 

“Why, where are you going?” asked the 
other, in astonishment. 

“ Never mind, it’s a little secret, — for the 
present. You just sit here on the grass and 
wait, — there’s a duck. Here’s a book you can 
read.” 

Azalea offered Elise a small volume — it was 
a new humorous publication, and one Elise 
had expressed a desire to read. She took it, 
saying, “ All right, Zaly, go ahead, but don’t 
be too long.” 

Azalea left her, and Elise soon became ab- 
sorbed in the book. 

It was a full half hour before Azalea returned. 

“Where have you been?” asked Elise, look- 
ing up, and then glancing at her watch. “ It’s 
half-past four! ” 

“ I know it. That’s not late. Come on, let’s 
go home.” 

Azalea was smiling and in an excited mood, 

i 1393 


Patty and Azalea 

but she looked tired, — almost exhausted, as 
well. She was flushed, and her hair was rum- 
pled, and her breath came quickly, as if she had 
been through some violent exercise. 

“What have you been up to, Zaly?” Elise 
asked, curiously. “ You look all done up ! ” 

“ I went for a walk by myself. Sometimes I 
have moods ” 

“ Fiddlesticks ! Don’t try to make me think 
you had a longing for self-communion or any 
foolishness of that sort! I know you, Azalea 

Thorpe ! You went off to meet somebody- ” 

“I did not! How you talk, Elise Farring- 
ton ! ” 

“Yes, you did! Somebody that you don’t 
w r ant Patty and Bill to know about. Oh, you 
don’t fool me! I’m not a blind bat! ” 

“Well, you’re ’way off! How could I pos- 
sibly know anybody they don’t know? ” 

“You do, though. You had some people 
come to see you, and the Farnsworths didn’t 
meet them at all.” 

“ How do you know? ” 

“ Patty told me.” 

“Tattle-tale! It’s none of her business if I 
did!” 

“ Now, look here ! I won’t stand for such 

[ 140] 


Vanity Fair 

talk about Patty ! You stop it! She’s not only 
your hostess but she’s the best friend you ever 
had or ever will have ! She’s making you over, 
— and goodness knows you needed it! ” 

“ And that’s none of your business ! I’m as 
good as you are, — this minute ! ” 

“I didn’t say you weren’t! It isn’t a ques- 
tion of goodness. You may be a saint on earth 
compared to me, but you don’t know how to 
behave in decent society, — or didn’t, till Patty 
took you in hand.” 

“She invited me to visit her! I didn’t ask 
her to have me ! ” 

“ Yes, because she wanted to be kind to her 
husband’s people, and you seemed to be the 
only one available.” 

“ Well, I was. And as I’m Cousin William’s 
only relative, I have a right to visit him as long 
as I please.” 

“ I don’t deny that, Azalea,” and Elise 
couldn’t help laughing at the defiant air of the 
speaker. “ I’m not disputing your right to be 
here. But I do deny your right to say anything 
whatever against Patty, who is trying her best 
to do all she can for your pleasure and for 
your good.” 

“ That’s so,” and Azalea’s manner suddenly 

[141] 


Patty and Azalea 

changed. “ Patty is a dear, and I love her. 
And that baby ! Oh ! ” 

“ How crazy you are over that child,” Elise 
exclaimed. “ She is a dear baby, but I don’t 
see why you idolise her so.” 

“ Oh, I love babies, and Fleurette is so sweet 
and soft and cuddly ! I love to have her all to 
myself, — but Patty won’t let me.” 

“ I don’t wonder ! Where did you go with 
her that day, Azalea? ” 

“ Nowhere in particular. Just for a walk in 
the country. I mean I walked. Baby rode in 
her coach.” 

“ But you went somewhere. Nurse Winnie 
insists you gave the child some soothing syrup, 
— or whatever they call it.” 

“What! I did nothing of the sort! Why, 
Elise, I wouldn’t do such a thing! I love that 
kiddy! I wouldn’t give her a morsel to eat or 
drink. I know how careful Nurse and Patty 
are about that! You must be crazy to think 
I’d give Baby anything! ” 

Azalea’s honesty was unmistakable, Elise 
couldn’t doubt she was speaking the truth. She 
began to think Nurse Winnie had imagined the 
soothing syrup. 

[The two girls went home, and Elise said no 

[ 142 ] 


Vanity Fair 

word to any one of Azalea’s strange disappear- 
ance for a time. 

They found Patty in a state of great excite- 
ment and interest over a new project. 

Betty Gale was there and the two heads were 
together over a list they were making and they 
were chattering like a couple of magpies. 

“ Oh, Elise,” Patty cried out, “ we’re getting 
up the grandest thing! It’s going to be here, 
— for the benefit of the Summer Fund, and it’s 
going to be Vanity Fair! ” 

“ What? What does that mean?” 

“Just what it says! It’s a big bazaar, — of 
course, — and we’re going to call it Vanity Fair 
and sell only gay, dainty, dinky little contrap- 
tions, and have all sorts of pretty booths and 
fancy dances and flower stands, and — oh, 
everything that Vanity Fair suggests.” 

“Fine!” approved Elise. “Great name! 
Who thought of it? You, Betty? I’m for it, 
— heart and soul! How about you, Azalea?” 

The Western girl stood silent. This was the 
sort of thing that was outside her ken. Though 
she had been at Wistaria Porch for some weeks 
now, and had become fairly conversant with 
the ways of Patty and her friends, this kind 
of a gay project was to her an unknown field. 

[ 143 ] 


Patty and Azalea 

“ It must be beautiful, — to know about things 
like that,” — she said, at last, so wistfully, that 
Patty put out a hand and drew Azalea to her 
side. 

It was this sort of a speech that made Patty 
feel that she was making headway in her ef- 
forts to improve the girl, and she rejoiced to 
have her show a desire to join in the new pro- 
ject. 

“ You can help us lots, I’m sure, Zaly,” she 
said, kindly, “ and you’ll have a chance to learn 
about it all. There’s heaps of fun in a Fair, 
especially when it’s all novel to you. It’s an old 
story to us, but I always love anything of the 
sort. We’ll have it here, you see, and it will 
be a lawn fete and a house party and a general 
hullabaloo!” 

“We’re making out the committees,” said 
Betty, “ and, you’ll be here, won’t you, Elise? ” 

“Well, I just guess! You can’t lose me! 
I shall be back and forth, of course, but I’ll do 
my share of the work, and exact my share of 
the fun.” 

“ Fine ! ” said Betty, a bit absently, as she 
was deeply absorbed in her list of names. 

“ Of course,” Patty went on, partly to the 
others and partly as if merely thinking aloud 

[ 144] 


Vanity Fair 

for her own benefit, “ there will be all the reg- 
ulation things, — lemonade well, fortune-telling, 
society circus and everything, but the idea is to 
have every one of them just a little bit different 
from what it has always been before, and have 
it in harmony with the idea of Vanity Fair.” 

“ The book? ” asked Elise. 

“ No, not Thackeray. I mean, just the idea 
of the gay atmosphere, — the light, giddy side 
of life. For instance, let’s have a Vanity booth 
and sell all sorts of aids to beauty ” 

“Powder and paint!” exclaimed Azalea, in 
surprise. 

“ Well, I meant more like lacy caps and stun- 
ning negligees. And yes, of course, vanity 
cases and powder-puff bags and mirrors and 
perfumes, — oh, all sorts of foolishnesses that 
are pretty.” 

“ I know,” said Elise, nodding her head. 
“And we’ll have an artificial flower booth, — 
that’s right in line. And people love to buy 
’em,— I do.” 

“And laces,” said Patty; “and embroidered 
boudoir pillows, and oh, — and baby things! 
Why Fleurette’s nursery wardrobe looks like a 
Vanity Fair itself! ” 

“ Hold on,” cried Betty, laughing, “ don’t go 

[ 145] 


Patty and Azalea 

too far. Not everybody is interested in baby 
togs ! ” 

“ I s’pose not,” said Patty, smiling. “ All 
right, cut out the Baby booth.” 

“No;” spoke up Azalea, “let’s have it. 
Everybody knows a baby to give presents to. 
And the little caps and things are so pretty.” 

“Good for you, Zaly,” cried Patty; “we’ll 
have it, and you and I will run it, and Fleurette 
shall be the presiding genius, and sit enthroned 
among the fairy wares ! Oh, it will be lovely! ” 

“ Yes, do have it,” agreed Betty. “ It will 
be a screaming success with Fleurette in it! ” 

“ And if you want such things,” Azalea went 
on, losing her diffidence, “ I can get a lot of 
Indian things from home, — baskets, — you 
know, — and leather, and beaded things.” 

“ Fine, Zaly! ” and Elise smiled at her. “ We 
do want those,* — real ones, — they always sell.” 

They went on planning, all working in har- 
mony, and each full of suggestions, which the 
others approved or criticised, in frank, friendly 
fashion. 

Then Janet appeared to call Azalea to the 
telephone, and the girl looked up, surprised. 
She blushed scarlet, and hurried from the 
room. 


[ 146] 


.Vanity Fair 

“Who could have called her?” said Elise; 
“ she doesn’t know any one you don’t know, — 
does she, Patty?” 

“No; but she knows lots of our friends. 
Somebody is probably asking her to go some- 
where.” 

None of them tried to listen, but the telephone 
was in the next room and Azalea’s voice had a 
peculiar carrying quality that made it difficult 
not to overhear snatches of her conversation. 

“ No,” she exclaimed, positively, “ I can’t do 
it ! I really can’t ! I’m sorry it didn’t go right, 
but I can’t do it again ! It’s impossible ! ” 

A pause, and then, again, “ No, I simply 

can’t! Don’t ask me — yes, of course, 1 

know, but, you see, they said, oh, I 

can’t tell you now, — I’ll write,—; — well, yes, 

I’ll do that ! — Oh, of course, I’ll be there 

but the — the other one no, no, no ! ” 

These remarks were at long intervals and dis- 
connected, but they were clearly heard by the 
three in the next room, and though no one men- 
tioned it, each thought it a strange conversa- 
tion for Azalea to take part in. 

Patty listened thoughtfully, feeling no hesita- 
tion in doing so, for she had only Azalea’s good 
at heart and wanted to know anything that 

1 147] 


Patty and Azalea 

might help her understand the mystery that was 
certainly attached to the girl. 

In the first place to whom could Azalea pos- 
sibly be talking in that fashion? Moreover, 
her voice was troubled, and her tone was one 
of nervous apprehension and anxiety. 

At last she returned to the group, and Patty 
said, pleasantly, “Who’s your friend, Zaly?” 

“ Nobody in particular,” and Azalea looked 
as if that were a question she had been dread- 
ing. 

“You mean not a particular friend; but who 
was it?” Patty was persistent, even at risk of 
rousing Azalea’s wrath, for she felt she must 
know. 

“ I won’t tell you ! ” Azalea cried, stormily. 
“ It’s nobody’s business if I answer a telephone 
call. I don’t ask you who it is, every time you 
telephone ! ” 

“ All right, Zaly, forgive me, — I was a bit in- 
quisitive.” 

And so the matter was dropped, but that night 
after Azalea had gone to her room, Patty came 
tapping at the door. 

It was only after repeated knocking that Aza- 
lea opened the door a little way, and quite 
evidently resented the intrusion. 

1 148 ] 


Patty and Azalea 

“ I’m just going to bed,” she said, ungra- 
ciously. 

u I won’t stay but a minute,” and Patty in- 
sistently pushed her way in. “ Now, don’t fly 
into a rage, dear, but you must tell me who 
called you up on the telephone to-day.” 

“ You’ve no right to ask! ” 

“ Yes, I have, and, too, there must be some 
reason why you are so unwilling to tell me. 
Why is it? ” 

Azalea hesitated. Then she said, “ Oh, I’ve 
no reason to make a secret of it. But I think 
you’re very curious. It was somebody I met 
on the train when I came East.” 

“ A man or a woman? ” 

“ A — a woman.” 

“Are you telling the truth, Azalea?” and 
Patty’s clear, compelling gaze was direct and 
accusing. 

“ Well — well — Patty, it’s both.” 

“ Those people who called here one day, and 
you saw them on the porch? ” 

“ Yes.” 

“ What are their names? ” 

“ Oh, — oh, I forget.” 

“Rubbish! You don’t forget. Be sensible, 
Azalea. You’re making a mystery of some- 

[ 1493 


Patty and Azalea 

thing. Now if it’s anything wrong, I’m going 
to know about it, — if it’s merely a little secret 
of your own, — a justifiable one, — tell me so, in 
a convincing way, and I’ll stop questioning.” 

“ It is a secret of my own, — and it’s nobody’s 
business but mine.” 

“ Is it a harmless, innocent matter?” 

“ Of course it is! What do you think I am? 
A thief?” 

“ Gracious, no ! I never thought you were 
that!” Patty laughed. u But I do suspect 
you’re up to some flirtation or affair of that 
sort, and I have a perfect right to inquire into 
the matter. Why didn’t you let us meet your 
friends that day they called?” 

“ I didn’t suppose you would care to know 
them. They’re not your sort.” 

“Are they your sort? Oh, Zaly, I thought 
you wanted to be our ‘ sort,’ — as you call it. 
You don’t want to have friends Bill and I 
wouldn’t approve of, do you?” 

“Oh, — I don’t know what I want! I wish 
you’d go ’way, and leave me alone ! ” 

“ I will in a minute. Tell me your friends’ 
names.” 

“ I won’t.” 

“ Then I shall ask Ray Gale. He knows 
[ 150 ] 


Vanity Fair 

them, — he recognised them the day they were 
here, and you forbade him to tell me who they 
were.” 

“ Then if he knows them, isn’t that enough to 
assure you of their respectability? ” 

“ It isn’t a question of respectability, — I want 
to know why they are telephoning you, — not 
casually, — but apparently on some important 
matter.” 

“ That’s my business. Oh, Patty, let me 
alone ! ” 

Azalea was clearly overwrought, and in 
another moment would fly into an hysterical 
tantrum. But Patty made one more effort. 

“ Just tell me the name,” she said, gently. 

“ Well — Smith. There, now are you satis- 
fied?” 

“ I am not,” said Patty, truthfully. “ Good 
night, Azalea.” 

She went thoughtfully away, and communi- 
cated to Bill the whole conversation. 

“ She’s a queer girl,” Farnsworth remarked, 
after he had heard all about the afternoon tele- 
phoning. “ Do you know, Patty, that letter 
which she pretended came from her father, — 
she wrote herself.” 

“What?” 


[ 151 ] 


Patty and Azalea 

“She did; and on my own typewriter, — here 
in our library.” 

“ What do you mean? ” 

“ Just what I say. I knew it, the moment 
I saw it, for the writing on my machine is so 
familiar to me, I can recognise it instantly. 
The tail of the y doesn’t print, and there are 
lots of little details that make it recognis- 
able.” 

“ Are you sure, dear? I thought all typewrit- 
ing was just alike.” 

“Oh, no; it is as greatly differentiated, al- 
most, as penwriting, — some experts think more 
so. I mean, it can’t be forged successfully, and 
penwriting can. Well, anyhow, that letter Aza- 
lea showed me, as being from her father, was 
written on my machine. She had no envelope, 
for of course she couldn’t reproduce the proper 
postmark on an envelope she had herself ad- 
dressed.” 

“But why, — what for? I don’t under- 
stand.” 

“ I haven’t got it all straightened out yet, my- 
self, — but I shall. Another thing, Azalea is a 
poor speller, and she herself spells very with 
two r’s. She did in a dinner acceptance she 
wrote and referred to me for approval. So, 

[ 152 ] 


Vanity Fair 

when I saw that word misspelled twice in the 
letter we’re talking of, I knew she wrote it, — 
I mean, it corroborated my belief. Now, 
Patty, we’ve a peculiar case to deal with, and 
we must feel our way. This telephoning busi- 
ness is serious. Of course, Smith is not those 
people’s name ! She told you a falsehood. We 
know she is capable of that ! Now to find out 
what their name is. It isn’t too late to call up 
Gale.” 

Farnsworth took up the telephone and soon 
had Raymond Gale on the wire. He asked 
him frankly for the name of the two people 
who were calling on Azalea when he recognised 
them. 

“ Miss Thorpe asked me not to tell,” said 
Gale, “ I’m sorry, old chap, but I promised her 
I wouldn’t.” 

“ But it’s an important matter, Ray, and a 
case in which I’m sure you’re justified in break- 
ing your promise ” 

“ Can’t do it ! Can’t break my word given to 
a lady.” 

“ But Azalea is a mere girl, and a headstrong, 
ignorant one, at that. She is in our care, and 
it is our duty to know with whom she associates. 
Who were those people?” 

[ 153 ] 


Patty and Azalea 

“ Seriously, Farnsworth, I can’t tell you. 
Miss Thorpe asked me definitely not to 
do so, and I gave her my promise. You 
must see, — as man to man, — I can’t tell 
you.” 

“ I see your point, and I quite agree, in a 
general way. But, Gale, this is a — well, a 
crisis. I’m investigating a mystery and I must 
know who those people are.” 

“ Ask Miss Thorpe.” 

“ I have, and she won’t tell.” 

“ Then you surely can’t expect me to ! After 
I promised to keep her secret! ” 

“ Why should it be a secret? ” 

“ Ask her.” 

“Well, tell me one thing; is the name 
Smith?” 

“ It is not.” 

“What sort of people are they?” 

“ Oh, people of — why, hang it, man, — I 
don’t know what to say to you ! I refuse to 
betray Miss Thorpe’s confidence, and so I don’t 
know how much I ought to tell you.” 

“Are they people I would receive in my 
home? ” 

“ Scarcely ! If you mean, are they your social 
equals, they are not! ” 

[ 154 ] 


Vanity Fair 

“ Then, I ought to know about them, and for- 
bid Azalea their acquaintance.” 

“ Oh, Miss Thorpe doesn’t know them so- 
cially ! ” said Gale, and then he said a quick 
“ good-bye ” and hung up his receiver. 


,[iS5] 


CHAPTER X 


INQUIRIES 


HE next day Farnsworth made an oc- 
casion to see Azalea alone. 



“ Come for a stroll in the rose gar- 
den,” he said to her as they left the breakfast 
table. 

“ But aren’t you in a hurry to go to town?” 
she objected. 

“ No, I’m not. Come along, Zaly, I want to 
talk to you.” 

Azalea looked embarrassed. She had on a 
trim linen street suit, and had an air of alert- 
ness as if about to start on a trip of some sort. 

“ I was — I was just going for a walk,” she 
said, hesitatingly. 

“ All right, I’ll walk with you. Let’s make it 
a long hike.” 

“ Oh, — I’d love to, Cousin William, — really, 
— but I — I’ve a lot to do in my room, this 
morning.” 


1 156] 


Inquiries 

“A lot to do! What do you mean? Does 
Patty make you take care of your room?” 

“ Oh, not that sort of work. I’ve got to — to 
— write letters.” 

“ To your father? ” Bill’s look was significant. 

“Yes — no, — oh, a lot of letters.” 

“ Look here, Azalea, you come out with me 
for a few minutes, — I won’t keep you long.” 
Farnsworth took her arm, and led her gently 
down the verandah steps and along a garden 
path. 

“ Now, my child,” he said most kindly, u tell 
me why you pretended that letter was from 
your father, when it was not?” 

“ Oh, yes, it was ” 

“ Stop, Azalea ! Don’t add to your list of 
falsehoods! You wrote that letter yourself on 
my typewriter, in my library. Why did you do 
it?” 

“ How do you know? ” Azalea turned an as- 
tonished face to her inquisitor. 

“ I recognised the typing. How do you know 
how to use the machine so well? Were you 
ever a stenographer? ” 

“No; I don’t know shorthand at all. And 
I didn’t ” 

“ Stop, I say, Azalea ! I know you wrote 

[ 157] 


Patty and Azalea 

that! Now, tell me why! I can't imagine any 
reason for it.” 

The girl was stubbornly silent. 

“ Unless you tell me why you did it, I shall 
be compelled to think there is some wrong rea- 


“ Oh, no, there isn’t! ” 

“Then, — come now, Zaly, — ’fess up. Was 
it for a joke on me? ” 

“ Yes, yes, that was it! ” 

“ No, that wasn’t it, and you only grasped at 
my suggestion to evade the real truth ! Now, 
you must tell me. Out with it!” 

“ Well — you see, Cousin William, you are 
always asking me why I don’t get letters from 
my father, and — as I didn’t get any, I 
manufactured one to — to satisfy you. That’s 
all.” 

“ No, no, my girl, we haven’t got the truth 
yet. You had more of a motive than that. 
And, too, why don’t you get letters from your 
father? Is he angry with you? Are you two 
at odds? ” 

“ Yes, — we are. He and I had a quarrel.” 

“ Azalea, you have a very readable face. I 
know when you are telling me the truth and 
when you are not. Now, you are ready to 

r 158 1 


Inquiries 

grasp at anything I suggest rather than let me 
know the real facts of the case. So I am justi- 
fied in thinking it’s something pretty bad. 
What is it, child? Don’t be afraid of me. 
Did you run away from home? ” 

“ Oh, no ! ” Azalea looked frightened. Then 
she burst into tears. “ Wh-what makes you 
think I’m doing wrong?” she sobbed; “I’m 
not, — I’m oh, — I’m all right!” Her air of 
bravado suddenly returned and she looked up 
defiantly, brushing her tears aside. 

Farnsworth could, as he said, read her face, 
and he was quite ready to meet her explana- 
tions when she was in a docile mood, but this 
quick return to her pose of injured innocence 
roused him to fresh indignation. 

“ I daresay you are all right, Azalea, and 
therefore it will be easy for you to answer a 
few questions which I must insist on having 
answered. Who was it that telephoned you 
yesterday?” 

“ Oh, that was Mr. Smith.” 

“ His name is not Smith ! ” Farnsworth spoke 
so sharply that Azalea fairly jumped. 

But she insisted, “ Yes, it is ” 

“ I know it is not! It was the man who came 
here to see you one day, — and whatever his 

c 159] 


Patty and Azalea 

name is, it is not Smith! Tell me the truth or 
not, as you choose, but don’t try to insist on 
Smith!” 

“ All right, then I choose to tell you nothing, 
I have a perfect right to have friends telephone 
me, and I think it shows an ill-bred curiosity for 
you to ask their names ! ” 

Azalea’s would-be haughty face and her ref- 
erence to ill-breeding struck Farnsworth so 
funny he laughed in spite of himself. 

Azalea was quick to take advantage of this. 

“ Oh, Cousin William,” she said, smilingly, 
“ don’t be hard on me. I’m only a wild West- 
ern girl, I know, but I’m — I’m your cousin and 
I claim your — your ” 

Azalea didn’t quite know what she was claim- 
ing, but as it was really a cessation of the inter- 
view that she most desired, she turned on her 
heel and walked rapidly toward the house. 

“ Hold on! ” cried Farnsworth, “ not so fast, 
Zaly. Before you leave me, listen to this. I 
am not at all satisfied with what you have told 
me, — or, rather, what you have refused to tell 
me, — and I am going to write to your father, 
and ask him why he doesn’t write to you.” 

Azalea stood still, facing him, and her face 
turned white. 


[160] 


Inquiries 

“Oh, no!” she cried, in a tone of dismay, 
“ you mustn’t do that! ” 

“ But I will. There’s no reason I shouldn’t 
write to my relative. And I must get at the 
mystery of this thing.” 

“ Don’t do that, Cousin William, don’t, I beg 
of you ! ” The girl was greatly excited now. 
Her face was drawn with terrified apprehen- 
sion and her voice shook with fear. 

“Why not?” Farnsworth demanded, and he 
grasped her arm as she tried to run away. 
“ I’m going to have this out now, Azalea ! 
“Why shan’t I write to Uncle Thorpe?” 

“ Be — because he isn’t — he isn’t there ” 

“Is he dead?” 

“ Oh, no! He’s — he’s — gone away on a — 
a business trip.” 

“ You’re making up, Azalea, — I see it in your 
face. Tell me the truth about him. Has he 
married again? ” 

“ No,— oh, no.” 

“Well, then, where is he?” 

“ He’s— I don’t know ” 

“ You don’t know where he is, — and yet you 
claim you had a letter from him! ” 

“You say I wrote that letter myself ” 

“ And you did! ” 


[ 161 ] 


Patty and Azalea 

“ Well, then, it was because you insisted on 
my getting a letter from him, — and — and that’s 
the only way I could think of.” 

Azalea gave a half-smile, hoping Farnsworth 
would laugh, too. 

But he did not. He said, sternly, “ I can’t 
understand you, Azalea. I don’t want to mis- 
judge you, but you must admit, yourself, that 
you’re making it very hard for me. Why won’t 
you tell me everything? If Uncle Thorpe dis- 
owned you,- — cast you off, — or anything like 
that, — tell me; I’ll take your part, — and I’ll 
defend you.” 

“Would you, Cousin William?” Azalea’s 
voice was wistful; “would you defend me?” 

The serious tone disturbed Farnsworth more 
than her anger had done, and he looked at her 
keenly. 

“Yes,” he answered, “but only if you are 
frank and truthful with me. Now, once again, 
Azalea, what is the real name of the man who 
called you up yesterday?” 

“ Brown,” said Azalea, and Farnsworth gave 
a gesture of impatience. 

“You’re a very poor story-teller!” he ex- 
claimed. “ It is not Brown, — or Green, — or 
Smith. If you had said some less common 
[162] 


Inquiries 

name, I might have believed you. But your 
inventiveness doesn’t go far enough. When 
people want to deceive, it’s necessary to frame 
their falsehoods convincingly. If you had said 
Mersereau or Herncastle, — I might have swal- 
lowed it.” 

Azalea stared at him. 

“ Why would you have thought those names 
were right?” she asked. 

“ Because I should have felt sure you didn’t 
invent them. But when you want to conceal a 
name, and you say Smith or Brown, it doesn’t 
go ! Also, you look as if you were fibbing. 
Why do you do it, Azalea? Why?” 

“ Oh, Cousin William,” the girl looked gen- 
uinely distressed, “ I wish I could tell you all, — 
I believe I will, — but — no, — I can’t ” 

Then she shrugged her shoulders, and tossed 
her head, and her defiant manner returned. 

Farnsworth gave up in despair. “ Very well, 
Azalea,” he concluded, “ I shall write to-day 
to Uncle Thorpe. I tell you this frankly, for 
I do not do things on the sly. I’m sorry you 
take the attitude you do, but while I’m waiting 
to hear from your father, I shall continue to 
treat you as a guest and a trusted friend. That 
is all.” 


[ 163 ] 


Patty and Azalea 

Farnsworth stood aside, and let Azalea pass. 
The girl went back to the house, in deep 
thought. 

She did not go to her room, or write any let- 
ters. She dawdled about, started the phono- 
graph going, read a little in a magazine, and 
seemed generally distraught. 

As she sat in the big, pleasant hall, she saw 
Farnsworth come in, go to the library and sit 
at his desk writing. Apparently this was one 
of the days when he did not go to New York. 
Patty came by — spoke cheerily to Azalea as 
she passed her, and then went on to speak to 
Bill. 

The two went out of doors together. Azalea 
jumped at the chance, and running into the 
library, glanced over the letters Farnsworth 
had written. As she had surmised, there was 
one addressed to Samuel Thorpe, Horner’s 
Corners, Arizona. 

Azalea didn’t touch it. She merely glanced 
at her wrist-watch and hurried up to her own 
room. 

Sitting there at the pretty desk, she wrote two 
or three letters, and sealed and addressed them. 

Then, sitting on her window-seat, she looked 
out over the beautiful lawns and gardens. She 
[ 164] 


Inquiries 

saw Bill and Patty walking about, pausing here 
and there. She knew they were selecting places 
for the booths and stands to be used at the 
forthcoming Fair. 

How happy they were! And how miserable 
she was! She looked at them enviously, and 
then again she tossed her hand, in her defiant 
way, and turned from the window. 

At luncheon Azalea was very sweet and pleas- 
ant. She talked with Farnsworth gaily, and 
discussed the Fair with Patty and Elise. 

“ I’m going to donate some lovely things for 
the sale,” she said. “ I’ve written home for 
some Indian baskets and Navajo blankets, and 
some beadwork.” 

“ Good gracious, Azalea,” cried Elise, “ you’ll 
outshine us all in generosity! I’m making some 
lace pillows and boudoir caps, but they won’t 
sell as well as your gifts.” 

“ It’s very kind of you, dear,” and Patty 
smiled at the Western girl with real gratitude. 
“ I wonder what booth you’d rather serve in, 
Azalea,” she went on. “ Of course, you may 
take your choice.” 

“ When is the Fair? ” Azalea asked. 

“ We’re planning it for the middle of July. 
I think we can get ready by that time.” 

[165] 


Patty and Azalea 

“ I won’t be here then,” and Azalea looked 
thoughtful. 

“ Won’t be here ! Of course you will ! What 
nonsense ! ” and Patty’s blue eyes opened wide 
in astonishment. 

“ I thought I might outstay my welcome,” 
Azalea said, seeming a little confused. 

“ Nay, nay, Pauline,” and Patty smiled at her, 
“ stay as long as you like. As long as you can 
be happy with us.” 

But there was an uncomfortable pause, for 
Farnsworth didn’t second Patty’s invitation or 
make any comment on it. 

“ I’m going down to New York in the car this 
afternoon,” said Elise. “ Want to go, Aza- 
lea?” 

“ Yes, — I’d be glad to.” 

“ All right, be ready about three. You going, 
Pattibelle? ” 

“No; not to-day. My lord and master is at 
home, and I can’t give up a precious hour of 
his companionship.” 

“ Oh, you turtle-doves ! All right, then, Zaly 
and I will sally forth to the great metropolis.” 

Elise was spending a month with Patty, and 
was going later to the mountains with her own 
family. They were all anxious, therefore, to 
[166] 


Inquiries 

get the Fair under way, and to hold it while 
Elise was still there. 

So things were being pushed, and the com- 
mittees were hard at work. There were in- 
numerable errands to the city, and nearly every 
day the big car went down and returned laden 
with materials for the work. 

Promptly at three, Azalea was in the hall, and 
Elise joined her, ready for the trip. 

“ I mean to mail these in New York,” said 
Elise, who carried a handful of letters. 

“ I will too,” returned Azalea, who also had 
a number of them in her hand. “ Let’s take 
these that are on the hall table, — they go 
quicker if we mail them in the city.” 

“ All right,” said Elise, carelessly, and Aza- 
lea, with a stealthy look about, picked up the 
big pile of addressed mail that lay on the table. 

No one was looking and she deftly slipped 
out from the lot the letter Farnsworth had 
written to Mr. Thorpe, — and pocketed it. 

Going out the door, she handed the rest of 
the letters, with her own, to the chauffeur, to 
mail, and then got into the car after Elise. 

Away they went, chattering blithely about the 
Fair, and the enormous lot of work yet to be 
done for it. 


[ 167] 


Patty and Azalea 

“ There are so many working with us,” ob- 
served Elise, “ that it seems a big job of itself 
to keep them in order.” 

“ It all amazes me,” returned Azalea. “ I 
never saw people work as hard as you and Patty 
do. And you accomplish such a lot ! And yet, 
you never get flustered or hurried, or ” 

“ That’s partly the result of long experience 
in these bazaar affairs, and partly because we 
both have a sort of natural efficiency. That’s 
a much used word, Zaly, but it means a lot 
after all.” 

“ Yes, it does. What’s your booth, Elise? ” 

“ It isn’t exactly a booth. I’m going to have 
a log cabin, — a real one, built just as I’ve 
planned it, and in it I’m going to sell all sorts 
of old-fashioned things.” 

“ Antiques? ” 

“ Yes, of the proper sort. Old Willow china 
and Sheffield plate. Copper lustre tea-sets and 
homespun bedspreads. And samplers! Oh, 
Azalea, I’ve three or four stunning samplers! 
One is dated 1812. That ought to bring a fine 
price.” 

“ I don’t know about samplers. Of course, 
I know what they are, — but what makes them 
valuable? ” 


[168] 


Inquiries 

“ Age, my dear. And authoritative dates. 
People make collections of old samplers, and 
those who collect will spend ’most anything for 
a good specimen.” 

“ I’ve one that my grandmother made, — at 
least, I can get it. Would you like it?” 

“ Would I ? Indeed I would ! But you ought 
to keep that, Azalea. My, what a generous 
girl you are! You’d give away your head, if 
it weren’t fastened on! No, dear child, keep 
your grandmother’s sampler yourself. Is it a 
good one? ” 

“ I don’t know what a ‘ good ’ one is. It has 
flowers on it, and little people, — queer ones, — 
and a long verse of poetry and an alphabet of 
letters.” 

“ And the date?” 

“ Yes; 1836, I think it is.” 

“ That’s fairly old. Not a collection piece, — 
but a good date. Is it in good condition, — or 
worn? ” 

“ Good as new. I don’t want it, Elise, — that 
is, I’d like to give it to you. You’ve been awful 
good to me.” 

“ All right, Zaly, send for it, and we’ll take 
a look at it, anyway.” 


1 169 1 


CHAPTER XI 


THE SAMPLER 

V ANITY FAIR was all that its name im- 
plied. By good fortune, the weather 
was perfect, — ideally pleasant and sun- 
shiny, yet not too warm. Wistaria Porch was 
transformed into a veritable Fairyland, and it 
was a bewildering vision of flowers, flags and 
frivolity by day, and a blaze of illuminated 
gaiety by night. 

It was to last but two days, for, Patty said, 
they might hope for fair weather for that long 
but hardly for three days. 

It was to open at noon, and all the morning 
everybody was running about, doing last min- 
ute errands or attending to belated decorations. 

Azalea had the Indian booth. It was a wig- 
wam, in effect, but it was so bedecked and orna- 
mented that it is doubtful if a real Indian would 
have recognised it as one. However, it was 
filled with real Indian wares, and the beautiful 

[ 170] 


The Sampler 

baskets and pottery were sure to prove best 
sellers. Azalea received a large consignment 
from some place she had sent to in Arizona, 
and other people had donated appropriate 
gifts, until the little tent was overflowing. 

Azalea herself, the attendant on the booth, 
was in the garb of an Indian princess, a friend 
of Patty’s having lent the costume for the oc- 
casion. It was becoming to the girl, and she 
looked really handsome in the picturesque trap- 
pings, and elaborate head-dress. 

Just before time for the Fair to be opened, 
Azalea went over to Elise’s booth. As she had 
planned, Elise had a log cabin, and in it she had 
arranged a motley collection of antiques and 
heirlooms that were quaint and valuable. It 
was the design of the Fair to sell really worth- 
while things at their full value ; and as they ex- 
pected many wealthy patrons, the committees 
felt pretty sure of a grand success. 

“ Elise,” said Azalea, as she appeared at the 
door of the cabin, “ here’s my contribution to 
your department. I haven’t had a chance to 
give it to you before.” She handed out a 
parcel, which Elise opened eagerly. 

It proved to be a sampler, — old, but in fine 
condition. It was an elaborate one, with many 

1 171 ] 


Patty and Azalea 

rows of letters, some lines of verse, and several 
little pictured shapes. There was a beautiful 
border, and the signature was Isabel Cutler , 
1636! 

“Oh!” exclaimed Elise, “what a gem! 
Where did you get it? Why, Azalea, this is a 
museum piece ! 1636 ! It’s worth hundreds of 

dollars ! ” 

“ Oh, no,” said Azalea, “ it can’t be worth 
all that! But I thought you’d like an old one.” 

“But I don’t understand! Where did you 
get it? ” 

“ It was my grandmother’s.” 

“ But your grandmother didn’t live in 1636 ! ” 
“ N — n — no, — I s’pose not. Well, — you see, 
she had it from her grandmother and great- 
grandmother, — clear back, — you know.” 

“ I see,” said Elise, scrutinising the sampler. 
“ It’s a marvel, Azalea. You mustn’t sell it at 
this Fair. It ought to go to a museum. 1636 ! 
That’s one of the earliest sampler dates! I 
can’t see how it’s lain unknown all these years. 
Who had it before you did? ” 

“ Mother.” 

“ Oh, yes, — of course. Well, I’m not going 

to take it from you ” 

“Yes, you are, Elise. I want to give it to 

[ 172] 


The Sampler 

you. I’ve wanted all along to give you some- 
thing nice, — you’ve been so good to me ” 

“ Rubbish! don’t talk like that, Zaly! If you 
want to make Patty a present, now, — give it 
to her. That would be a worth-while return 
for her kindness to you.” 

“ Oh, I don’t think so much of the old thing 
as you do. I don’t even think it’s pretty.” 

“ It isn’t a question of prettiness, or even of 
a well worked piece. It’s the date. And this 
is genuine, — I can see that. But I can’t under- 
stand it! Why, — I think this border wasn’t 
used until — I must look it up in my book. 
That’s home in New York. But, there’s one 
thing sure and certain ! This doesn’t get put in 
with my bunch of wares ! Mr. Greatorex may 
come this afternoon. He’s an expert on these 
things. He’ll know just what it’s worth.” 

“ Oh, Elise,” Azalea looked troubled, “ don’t 
take it so seriously. It’s just an old thing. 
You’ve others here that are far handsomer.” 

“ As I told you, Zaly, it’s the age that counts, 
— not the beauty. Run along to your own 
booth. I’ll lay this aside until I can find out 
about it. But if it’s as valuable as I think it 
is, you mustn’t give it to Vanity Fair, — or to 
anybody. 1636! My!” 

[ r 73 1 


Patty and Azalea 

Azalea looked a little crestfallen. Instead of 
being glad at the unexpected value ascribed to 
her gift, she seemed decidedly put out about it. 
She strolled round by Patty’s booth. That en- 
terprising young matron had caused to be built 
for her use a little child’s playhouse. It was 
just large enough for half a dozen children, 
and would perhaps hold nearly as many grown 
people. But it had a good-sized verandah and 
on this were tables piled with the loveliest fairy- 
like gossamer garments and comforts for tiny 
mites of humanity. Such exquisite blankets and 
afghans and tufted silk coverlets and such 
dainty frocks and caps and little coats and 
everything an infant could possibly use, from 
baskets to bibs and from pillows to porringers. 

And dolls, — soft, cotton or woolly dolls for 
little babies to play with, and soft, cuddly bears 
and lambs. Rattles, of course, and bath-tub 
toys, and all sorts of infants’ novelties. 

Patty, happy as a butterfly, hovered over her 
treasures. She wore the immaculate white 
linen garb of a nurse, and very sweet and fair 
she looked. Later, Fleurette was to grace the 
booth and attract all observers by her mar- 
vellous baby charm. 

At high noon the bazaar was opened with a 

[ 174 ] 


The Sampler 

flourish of trumpets and a fanfaronade by the 
band. Farnsworth had given the services of 
a first class band as his donation, and the musi- 
cians made good. 

The scene was one of varied attractions. The 
place itself was lovely with its wealth of flower 
gardens and shrubbery and the unique and elab- 
orate booths here and there among the trees 
made a striking picture. 

Betty was queen of the soda fountain. A 
really, truly soda fountain had been procured, 
and it was attended by white uniformed ser- 
vitors who were trained to the work, but Betty 
was the presiding genius and invited her cus- 
tomers to sample her beverages, with free ad- 
vice as to which flavours and combinations she 
thought the best. 

Raymond Gale was a general supervisor of 
several of the enterprises. 

He had in charge the moving-picture men 
who had expressed a desire to get some scenes 
of the gay throngs and were willing to pay well 
for the privilege. 

“ You like the ‘ movies,’ ” he called out to 
Azalea, “ come over here and get into the 
game.” 


[ 175] 


Patty and Azalea 

“ Can’t,” she called back. “ I have to be on 
duty at my wigwam.” 

“Oh, come along; the wigwam won’t run 
away. At least promenade up and down once 
with me.” 

So Azalea came, laughingly, and the two 
walked grandiloquently into the focus of the 
camera. 

“ And there is a man making phonograph rec- 
ords,” young Gale went on. “ Come over 
there, Zaly, and we’ll have a joust of words, 
and record it on the sands of time ! ” 

“What do you mean?” asked Azalea, inter- 
estedly, for she had no knowledge of some of 
the performances going on. 

She went with Raymond and found a crowd 
waiting at the booth where the phonograph 
man was doing business. His plan was to make 
a record for any customer who cared to sing, 
recite or soliloquise for him. Mothers gladly 
brought their infant prodigies to “ speak 
pieces ” and went away proudly carrying the 
records that could be played in their homes for 
years to come. Aspiring young singers made 
records of their favourite songs. One young 
girl played the violin for a record. 


[ 176 1 


The Sampler 

Taking their turn, Raymond and Azalea had 
what he called an impromptu scrap. A few 
words of instruction were enough for Azalea’s 
dramatic instinct to grasp his meaning, and they 
had a lively tiff followed by a sentimental 
“ making-up ” that was good enough for a 
vaudeville performance, and which Azalea 
knew would greatly amuse Patty and Bill when 
they should hear the record. 

“ Oh, what fun ! ” Azalea cried, “ I never 
heard of such a thing. I want to make a lot 
of records. I’m going to make one of Baby! ” 

She ran into the house and up to the nursery 
where Winnie was just giving the child her 
dinner. “ Goody! ” cried Azalea, “ now she’ll 
be good-natured! Let me take her, Winnie.” 

Not entirely with Winnie’s sanction, but in 
spite of her half-expressed disapproval, Azalea 
took the laughing child and ran back to the 
phonograph booth. 

“ Let me go in ahead of you people, won’t 
you, please?” she begged, and the waiting line 
fell back to accommodate her. 

But alas for her hopes. She wanted the 
baby to coo and gurgle in the delightful little 
way that Fleurette had in her happiest mo- 
ments. 


[ 1 77] 


Patty and Azalea 

Instead, frightened by the strangeness of the 
scene and the noise and laughter of the people 
all about, Fleurette set up a wail of woe which 
developed rapidly into a storm of screams and 
sobs, — indeed, it was a first-class crying spell, 
— a thing which the good-natured child rarely 
indulged in. 

Not willing to wait for a better-tempered mo- 
ment, the man took the record and poor little 
Fleurette was immortalised by a squall instead 
of a sunny burst of laughter. 

But there was no help for it, and Azalea, 
greatly chagrined, took the baby back to Nurse. 

“ Here’s your naughty little kiddy,” she cried 
ruefully, handing Fleurette over, but giving the 
child a loving caress, even as she spoke. 

“ Thank you, Miss Thorpe, I’m glad to get 
her back so soon.” 

And then Azalea ran away to her Indian 
booth, where she found her assistant doing a 
rushing business with the Indian wares. 

Indeed, everybody seemed anxious to buy the 
baubles of Vanity Fair. The cause was a 
worthy one, the patrons were wealthy and gen- 
erous, and the vendors were charming and 
wheedlesome. 

So the coin fairly flowed into their coffers 

[178] 


The Sampler 

and as the afternoon wore on they began to 
fear they wouldn’t have enough goods to sell 
the second day. 

Azalea was a favourite among the young peo- 
ple. She looked a picture in her Indian dress 
and she was in rare good humour. She tried, 
too, to be gracious and gentle, and committed 
no gaucheries and made no ignorant errors. 

“ You’ve simply made that girl over,” Elise 
said to Patty, as the two spoke of Azalea’s 
growing popularity. 

Patty sighed. “ I don’t know,” she said, 
thoughtfully. “ There’s something queer about 
Azalea. Little Billee has said so from the first, 
and now I begin to see it, too.” 

“ She is queer,” assented Elise, “ but she’s so 
much nicer than she was at first. Ray Gale is 
very devoted to her.” 

“ I know it. I like Ray, too, but sometimes, — 
I think, — he knows something about her that 
he won’t tell us.” 

“For mercy’s sake, — what do you mean? 
knows something about your own cousin that 
you don’t know ! ” 

“ Oh, Zaly isn’t our own cousin, you know. 
But — well, never mind now, Elise. This isn’t 
a good time to talk confidentially.” 

1 179] 


Patty and Azalea 

Crowds of people were constantly arriving, 
and among them were many of Patty’s old 
friends. Many, too, of her newer acquaint- 
ances, who lived in Arden and also in the near- 
by towns. 

Patty was charming and delightful to every- 
body, remembering that she was in a way 
hostess as well as a sales-lady. 

Fleurette graced her mother’s booth with her 
presence, later in the afternoon, and quite re- 
deemed her reputation for good nature, by 
smiling impartially on everybody, and gurgling 
a welcome to all who looked at her. 

The little garments and toys of Patty’s booth 
were soon sold out, for they were choice bits of 
needlework and found ready buyers. 

And then one enthusiastic young father 
wanted to buy the playhouse itself, in which 
Patty had displayed her wares. 

“ But I meant to keep this for my own baby ! ” 
she cried. 

“ Oh, you can build another by the time that 
little mite needs one,” the young man replied. 
“ And my youngster is four years old, — just 
ready to inhabit a ready made home of this 
kind.” 

So the pretty little house was sold, and plans 

[ 180 ] 



She proved exceedingly 

SKILFUL WITH THE BOW 
AND ARROW 





















V 








\ 








J 
































1 


























The Sampler 

were made to remove it to the purchaser’s 
estate. 

So it went. Azalea had many offers for her 
wigwam, if she would sell it after the fair. She 
agreed to let it go to the highest bidder, and 
finally received a fine price. 

Archery was one of the pretty diversions, and 
at this Azalea excelled. To the surprise of all, 
she proved exceedingly skilful with the bow 
and arrow and easily won the prize offered. 
But she magnanimously refused to accept it, 
and returned it to be competed for over again. 

Mr. Greatorex, the expert connoisseur in the 
matter of antiques, arrived at Elise’s log cabin 
and expressed delight in its construction and 
furnishing. 

The cabin was not for sale, Elise laughingly 
informed him, as Mr. Farnsworth intended to 
keep it a permanent fixture on his own grounds. 
Also, Elise went on, very few things of value 
were left on her tables, — but she still had one 
piece on which she wished to ask his opinion. 

From a drawer she brought out the sampler 
that Azalea had given her and passed it over 
to Mr. Greatorex, without comment. 

He looked at it, at first casually and then more 
closely. 


[181] 


Patty and Azalea 

His face expressed mystification, and suddenly 
he examined the date minutely and then smiled. 

“ Very clever, my dear, — very cleverly done, 
indeed. Did you do it? ” 

“ Oh, no; it is the property of a friend of 
mine, — it was done by an ancestor of hers. 
You see it’s signed and dated.” 

“ I see ! Oh, yes, I see ! But you mustn’t try 
to impose on me, — my eyesight is not yet en- 
tirely gone ! ” 

“ What do you mean, Mr. Greatorex? ” Elise 
was puzzled. “ I’m not trying to impose on 
you ! ” 

“ I hope not, my girl, for I wouldn’t want to 
believe such a thing of you. But you have been 
imposed upon.” 

“How?” 

“This sampler was worked in 1836, not 
1636.” 

“ How do you know? ” 

“ Very easily. Here, you can see for your- 
self. You see how the figures are made, — 
ordinary cross stitch. Well, as you know, an 
eight is worked almost exactly the same as a 
six, except that it has two more stitches on 
the upper right-hand side. If those two stitches 
are picked out of an eight, it turns into a six! 
[182] 


The Sampler 

Now, I’m sure your young eyes can see that 
two stitches have been picked out in this in- 
stance. See the slight mark where the canvas 
is the least bit drawn? And see, on the back 
a fresh stitch was necessary to keep the ends 
from ravelling. It would pass to a careless 
observer, but to one accustomed to these things 
the fraud is plainly evident.” 

“ Oh, Mr. Greatorex,” and Elise looked sor- 
rowful, “ I don’t care so much about the sam- 
pler being less valuable than I thought, as I do 
about having to think the friend who gave it 
to me would cheat me ! ” 

“ Perhaps she didn’t. Perhaps somebody 
cheated her.” 

“ No; she told me her mother gave her this, 
and that she had had it from her mother and 
grandmother — and so forth.” 

“ Then I fear your friend knew of the fraud, 
— though perhaps her mother gave it to her as 
it is now.” 

“ Can you judge if the stitches were picked 
out recently? ” 

“ I should say very recently. The canvas is 
faded, of course, but, as you see, the threads 
beneath where the missing stitches were is 
quite a shade lighter. Had the picking been 

C 183 3 


Patty and Azalea 

done years ago, the canvas would have assumed 
a uniform tinge, — or nearly so.” 

“ Of course it would, — I can see that for my- 
self. Oh, dear! — Well, Mr. Greatorex, don’t 
say anything about this, will you? ” 

“ Certainly not. But that’s a good sampler, 
as it stands, — I mean as a specimen of 1836 
work.” 

“ Yes, I know it is. And yet, oughtn’t the 
stitches to be put back?” 

“ Probably not, — for they could not be 
matched exactly ” 

“ But if it remains like this, everybody will 
think it two hundred years older than it really 
is.” 

Mr. Greatorex smiled. “ Scarcely,” he said. 
“ You see, my dear, the earliest known dated 
sampler is one of 1643 which is in the Victoria 
and Albert Museum, in England. There are 
but six or seven known in that century at all. 
It would be remarkable, therefore, to find a 
work of art that would antedate all collections, 
and yet show the patterns and style of work 
common less than a hundred years ago ! ” 

“ Oh, I understand, — I’ve read up on the 
matter somewhat, — but Pm so sorry — oh, I 
am so sorry!” 


[184] 


The Sampler 

Elise looked woe-begone indeed, for she real- 
ised that Azalea had, in all probability commit- 
ted the fraud herself, and with a deliberate in- 
tention of deceiving her. 

Azalea’s own ignorance of the whole matter 
was so great, that it was not surprising that 
she thought the mere alteration of the date 
would make the sampler of greater value. But 
what broke Elise’s heart was the knowledge 
of Azalea’s wilful deception. 

She thanked Mr. Greatorex for his explana- 
tions and, again asking him not to mention the 
matter to any one at all, she put the sampler 
back in the drawer and locked it up. 

“ Sold my sampler yet, Elise? ” Azalea asked, 
when next they met. 

“Yes; I bought it in myself,” Elise replied. 
“ I wanted it, so I bought it. I haven’t paid 
for it yet, for I want to know what you con- 
sider a fair price? ” 

Elise looked Azalea straight in the eyes, and 
was not surprised to note the rising colour in 
the cheeks of the Indian maiden. 

“ Why — why,” Azalea stammered, “ you said 
it was worth hundreds of dollars — you said that 
yourself, Elise.” 


[185] 


Patty and Azalea 

“ That was before I knew of your own handi- 
work on the sampler.” 

“ What do you mean? ” cried Azalea, angrily. 

“ Just what I say. To the work on the sam- 
pler, you added a bit more, — or rather, you 
subtracted some ! ” 


[ 1 86 ] 


CHAPTER XII 


azalea's chance 


w 


THAT do you mean by subtracted 
some ? ” 

u Now, Azalea, there’s no use in 
your acting like that ! You know perfectly well 
you can’t fool met If you really want to know 
what I mean, I’ll tell you. I mean that you 
picked out two stitches from the eight to make 
it look like a six. Didn’t you, now? ” 

“ Oh, well, if you’ve discovered that, I may 
as well own up. Yes, I did.” 

“ And aren’t you ashamed of yourself? Don’t 
you think such a deception a wrong and con- 
temptible thing to do ? ” 

“ Oh, pshaw, it was only for a joke. Can’t 
you take a joke, Elise ? ” 

“ It wasn't only for a joke. You hoped you 
would make me think the sampler two hundred 
years older than it really is I And you thought 
that would make it much more valuable. Well, 

[187] 


Patty and Azalea 

you overreached yourself! There were no 
samplers made — so far as is known — in 1636. 
So your trick wouldn’t fool anybody ! ” 

“ All right. There’s no harm done, that I 
can see. My little joke fizzled out, — that’s 
all.” 

“ No, that isn’t all. It has proved you are a 
deceitful girl! You don’t mind telling a false- 
hood!” 

“I didn’t tell any!” 

“Yes, you did! It’s an untruth to pretend 
something is what you know it isn’t! If I had 
sold that to some unsuspecting buyer, for a 
large price, you wouldn’t have said a word! 
You’d have let it go ! ” 

“ Of course; all’s fair at a Fair! ” 

“ Oh, don’t try to be funny, Azalea ; I’m really 
angry about this matter.” 

“ Huffy, eh? Well, get over it, then! I don’t 
care! Some people like me! Don’t they?” 

The last question was asked of Raymond 
Gale, who came walking by. 

“ Sure ; I do ! ” was the hearty reply. “ Who 
doesn’t? ” 

“ Elise,” and Azalea pouted at the girl. 

“Fiddlesticks!” said Elise, gaily. “Never 
mind, Azalea, I’ll take your joke in good part.” 

[188] 


Azalea’s Chance 

For Elise had suddenly decided that she didn’t 
want to spoil Patty’s Fair by having a quarrel 
with her guest. So, though a good deal per- 
turbed by the sampler incident, she preferred 
to drop the subject. 

Azalea understood, and was glad to be let 
off so easily, though she felt sure Elise would 
tell Patty all about it later. 

With Azalea, however, out of sight was out 
of mind, and she walked away with young 
Gale in a merry mood. 

As they strolled along, a man stepped toward 
them, and raising his cap in a respectful way, 
asked Azalea if he might have a few words 
with her, alone. 

He had a business-like air, and though polite, 
was, quite evidently, not a man of social posi- 
tion. 

Gale stared at him, and Azalea grew very red 
and confused. 

“ I — well — not just now,” she said, hesitat-’ 
ingly. “ I’ll see you some other time.” 

“ No, miss, that won’t do.” The man was 
courteous, but decided, — and had a manner 
that bespoke authority. 

u If I’m in the way, I’ll vanish,” Raymond 
said, laughing a little. 

[189] 


Patty and Azalea 

“ Well — if you will ” Azalea looked at 

him beseechingly. “ I’ll explain later.” 

So Gale walked off by himself and Azalea 
turned a troubled face to the man. 

“ Mr. Merritt,” she said, “ I can’t have any- 
thing more to do with the whole affair. I’m 
quite sure my relatives here wouldn’t approve 
of it, and I can’t keep the matter secret any 
longer.” 

“ But you must come, Miss Thorpe. By a 
strange coincidence you are greatly needed. 

Miss Frawley has broken her ankle ” 

“She has!” Azalea’s eyes sparkled. “Oh, 
— I don’t mean I’m not sorry for her, — I am, 
indeed! But ” 

“ But it gives you a chance ! A wonderful 

chance, — and if you can make good ” 

“ Oh, I can ! I will ! Shall I come now? ” 

“ No; but you must come to-morrow morning 
at nine, sharp. Will you? ” 

“ Indeed I will! I’ll be there on time.” 

“ And tell your people about it, — don’t you 
think you’d better?” 

“ Oh,” Azalea’s face fell. “ I don’t know. 
Suppose they refuse to let me go ! ” 

“ How can they? They have no real control 
over you.” 


C 190 ] 


Azalea’s Chance 

“No, — but I’d hate to go against their ex- 
pressed disapproval.” 

“Nonsense! This is your first chance at a 
career. Don’t muff it, now ! Why, just your 
skill at archery is enough to put you over ! It’s 
the very place for you! Western doings, rid- 
ing, shooting, lassoing, all sorts of bareback, 
daredevil stunts ” 

“I know — -I know. Yes, I’ll be there to- 
morrow. You go, now, — here comes my 
cousin.” 

With a quick glance at Farnsworth, who was 
approaching, the man walked swiftly away. 

“Who is he?” Bill asked, as he came up to 
Azalea. 

“ Friend of mine,” she answered, gaily. 

“What’s his name?” 

“That’s telling!” 

“ I know it is, and I expect to be told.” 

“ People don’t always get all they expect.” 

“Don’t trifle with me, Azalea; I’m not in a 
trifling mood. Who was that man? ” 

“ Ask me no questions and I’ll tell you no 
lies. Now, now, Cousin William, you know 
yourself, it’s very rude to insist on prying into 
other folks’ secrets ! ” 

“ Why is it a secret? What possible business 

[ 191 ] 


Patty and Azalea 

can a man like that have with you, — that I can’t 
know about? ” 

“ Why do you say ‘ a man like that ’? He’s 
all right.” 

“ All right is a vague term. He’s not one of 
our sort.” 

“ Don’t be a snob ! Remember you were born 
and brought up in the West, just as much as I 
was. And although you’ve now got to living 
high and mighty, you needn’t look down on me 
or my friends ! ” 

“You’re talking rubbish, Azalea. That man 
is not your friend, — he was talking to you on 
some business matter.” 

“I’m not a business woman!” 

“ You’re not a woman at all ! You’re a young 
girl, and a very silly one, — to have secret deal- 
ings with a common-looking man. Now, as 
your temporary guardian, I insist you tell me 
all about it.” 

“‘Temporary guardian’ is good! Who ap- 
pointed you? ” 

“ I’m that by reason of your being a guest in 
my house, and too in view of the fact that you 
have, apparently, nobody to look after you. 
Your father has mysteriously disappeared. 
You’ve had no word from him since you’ve 

[ 192] 


Azalea’s Chance 

been here ! So far as I know, you have no 
other relatives, and so, as your nearest of kin, 
I propose to look after you, — if you will let 
me. Don’t be foolish, Azalea, dear,” Farns- 
worth’s voice took on a tender tone, “ don’t be 
antagonistic. I want to help you, not annoy 
you. Why not look on me as a friend, and let 
me know all you’re about? There can be no 
reason why I shouldn’t.” 

“ You might not approve,” and Azalea looked 
at him uncertainly. 

“ Why? Are you up to anything wrong? ” 

“ No,” but she spoke hesitatingly, “ not 
wrong, Cousin, but — all the same, you might 
not approve.” 

“ Tell me, and let me see. If it isn’t wrong, 
I’ll promise not to censure you, even if I don’t 
entirely approve.” 

Azalea’s attention was attracted by the man 
who had lately left her. He stood behind 
Farnsworth and made gestures that informed 
Azalea she was not to let his presence be 
known. So she continued to talk to Bill, but 
also kept the other man in view. 

His procedure was somewhat strange. He 
pretended to be holding a baby, cuddling an 
imaginary child in his arms. Then he tossed 

[ 193] 


Patty and Azalea 

the non-existent little one up in the air, and pre- 
tended to catch it again. 

Then he nodded to Azalea. She shook her 
head negatively and very vigorously. 

He nodded peremptorily and insistently. 
Again she shook her head, and as she did so 
Farnsworth wheeled suddenly and saw the man. 

Angrily, he made a dash for him, but the 
stranger was agile and alert, and ran swiftly 
away and out of the grounds to the street. 

Farnsworth looked at Azalea coldly. “ So 
you were holding communication with him, 
over my shoulder! This is a little too much, 
Azalea, and now the crisis has been reached. 
Either you give me a full explanation of your 
business with him, or you bring your visit here 
to an end. I cannot have you in my house, if 
you are deceitful and insincere. I stand by 
my offer; I will listen willingly to your story, 
and judge you most leniently. I don’t really 
believe you are up to anything wrong. But a 
secret is always mysterious and I hold that you 
are too young and inexperienced to have secrets 
from your elders.” 

“ I have nothing to confess or confide, Cou- 
sin William,” said Azalea, putting on a haughty 
air. “ I refuse to be accused of wrong-doing, 

[ T 94 1 


Azalea’s Chance 

when I am not guilty of it, — and I will bring 
my visit here to an end at once ! I will leave 
to-morrow ! ” 

“ Oh, pshaw, Zaly, don’t go off so suddenly! ” 
Farnsworth laughed lightly, for he had said a 
little more than he meant to, and he realised, 
too, that this was neither the time nor the 
place to have such a serious talk with the girl. 

“ Come along now, and have tea with us all 
in the tea-house,” he said. “ Forget your 
bad, cruel cousin’s scoldy ways, and as to the 
mysterious man, I’ll trust your word that he’s 
all right.” 

“Oh, thank you, Cousin!” Azalea fairly 
beamed now. “ How good you are ! I’ll tell 
you all about it, — some day! ” 

So the matter rested for the moment, and the 
two went to join the merry group around the 
tea-table. 

The Fair drew to a brilliant close. The sec- 
ond evening was even more gay and festive 
than the first. Everything was sold out, — or, 
if not, it was disposed of by auction after the 
time-honoured method of Fairs. 

Much money had been accumulated for the 
good cause, and though tired, the workers were 
jubilant over the success of Vanity Fair. 

[ 195] 


Patty and Azalea 

“ I shall sleep late to-morrow morning,” de- 
clared Patty, as, after all the guests were gone, 
the house party started for bed. 

u Me, too,” agreed Elise. “ Pm glad you 
haven’t anybody staying here but us. No house 
guests, I mean, but just Zaly and me.” 

“ I’m glad, too,” said Patty. “ You see, I 
expected Father and Nan, but they’ve changed 
their plans and will remain in California 
another month.” 

“ They’re having a gorgeous trip, aren’t 
they? ” 

“ Yes, indeed, but I wish they’d ever get 
home! Just think, Father has never seen 
Fleurette ! ” 

“ She’ll be a big girl when they do see her. 
She’s growing like a little weed.” 

“ Like a little flower, you mean ! Don’t you 
just love her name, Elise?” 

“ Fleurette? Little Flower? Of course I do. 
The sweetest ever. Does Bill still call you 
Patty Blossom? ” 

“ Yes, at times. Oh, he calls me ’most any old 
thing! He makes up new names for both of 
us every day! Come along, Zaly, you’re drop- 
ping from sheer weariness. Time for little 
girls like you to go beddy ! ” 

[196] 


Azalea’s Chance 

Affectionately Patty put her arm round the 
girl, and led her away upstairs. 

“ Sleep well,” she said, as she left Azalea in 
her own room. 41 And don’t come downstairs 
in the morning before ten or eleven. I’m sure 
I shan’t. The servants will clear everything 
up, and Bill will oversee it. I hate the after- 
math of a Fair, — don’t you? ” 

Azalea nodded agreement, and Patty kissed 
her good-night and went off. 

But it was only eight o’clock the next morn- 
ing when Azalea crept softly downstairs. She 
was neatly attired in a cloth suit, with a fresh 
white shirtwaist and a pretty hat. 

She was not at all sleepy or weary-looking and 
she went out through the pantry to the kitchen. 

44 Please give me a cup of coffee,” she said 
to the cook, who was just beginning her day’s 
work. 

She looked in amazement at Azalea, for she 
had had no orders over night to serve an early 
breakfast. 

44 I’ll get you something as quick as I can,” 
she said, good-naturedly. 44 1 didn’t know you 
was going to town, Miss Thorpe.” 

44 Just decided,” said Azalea, carelessly; 44 and 

1 197] 


Patty and Azalea 

I don’t want breakfast, — only a cup of coffee 
and a bit of toast. There’s a good cookie.” 

Smiling at the cajolery, the cook bustled about 
and soon had an appetising little repast ready. 
Azalea gratefully accepted the poached egg 
and the marmalade in addition to what she had 
requested, and in a short time had finished and 
prepared to depart. 

But she did not ask for one of the Farns- 
worth motor-cars; instead, she walked swiftly 
out of the gate and down the street toward the 
trolley line. 

She waited for a car and when it came she 
got aboard and settled down for a long 
ride. 

At last she got out and a short walk brought 
her to her destination. This was nothing more 
nor less than a great moving-picture studio. 

There were a number of people about, all very 
busy and intent on what they were doing. 

Azalea seemed to be known, for two or three 
nodded pleasantly to her as she went swiftly 
along to the office. 

There she presented herself, and was received 
by Mr. Bixby, the man who had one day called 
on her at Wistaria Porch. 

“ Well, Miss Thorpe,” he said, briskly, “ I 

[198] 


Azalea’s Chance 

suppose you heard the news. Miss Frawley 
has broken her ankle ” 

“ Yes, I heard that,” said Azalea, with a 
sympathetic look. 

“ And we think we want to put you in her 
place, — at least, for a trial.” 

“ I’m glad to try,” Azalea said, earnestly. 
“ I’ll do my best to make good. But I can’t 
bring the baby again.” 

“ Oh, pshaw, yes you can, — just once more, 
anyway. But never mind that now. We must 
see about your own part. You know there’s 
danger, Miss Thorpe?” 

“ Miss Frawley braved the danger,” Azalea 
said, quietly. 

“ Yes, and Miss Frawley broke her ankle.” 

“ I know; and I may break mine, but I’ll take 
the chance. I am not afraid, — though I well 
know that accidents may happen. What was 
Miss Frawley doing? ” 

“ It was in that climbing scene. You know 
she climbs the sheer precipice of rock. There 
are hidden spikes driven into the rock for her 
feet, of course, but she missed one, and fell.” 

“ I’ll be as careful as I can, but I may miss 
it, too.” 

“ In that case, we’ll have to get some one 

1 199] 


Patty and Azalea 

else,” said Mr. Bixby, coolly. “ Are you ready 
for work? ” 

“ Oh, yes,” and then Azalea was shown to 
the dressing-rooms. 

This was her secret. For years she had 
wanted to be a moving-picture actress, and 
she had hoped before she left Arizona for 
New York that she might get an opportunity 
to take up the work. She had expected to 
begin with minor parts, and hoped by her skill 
and earnest efforts to attain eminence. 

On the train, coming East, she had formed an 
acquaintance with Mr. Bixby and his wife, who 
were in the business. As their studio was not 
far from the Farnsworth home, Azalea had 
made plans with them to engage in the work. 

She had carried out these plans, and had been 
over to the studios several times, taking parts 
in which they needed a substitute. 

She had done so well and had shown such 
promise that Mr. Bixby urged her to become 
a regular actress in his company. 

But Azalea was so uncertain as to how Patty 
and Bill would regard such a move on her part, 
that she had so far kept the matter to herself. 

Then, when the star actress had met with an 
accident, and the management had concluded to 
[ 200 ] 


Azalea’s Chance 

offer Azalea her place, it was a great chance 
for the girl. 

She had come over this morning to give it a 
trial, entirely at sea as to her subsequent atti- 
tude toward the Farnsworths. 

She thought she would be guided by circum- 
stances as to whether she would confide all to 
them, or whether she would continue her se- 
crecy as to her movements. 

Mrs. Bixby attended to her in the dressing- 
room. All of Miss Frawley’s costumes, it was 
found, could be altered to fit Azalea. 

As one in a dream, the girl stood to be fitted, 
while seamstresses and modistes hovered about 
her. 

Then she was informed that the work that day 
would be only rehearsing and the pictures 
would not actually be taken until her costumes 
were ready. 

Submissively she did exactly as she was told, 
and so well did she act the parts assigned her, 
that Mr. Bixby expressed hearty approval. 

Azalea was there nearly all day, and when at 
last she turned her face homeward, a great dis- 
may seized her. 

“What’s the matter, child?” asked kindly 
Mrs. Bixby, who was saying good-bye. 

[ 201 ] 


Patty and Azalea 

“ Ok, I don’t know what to do ! ” Azalea was 
tempted to tell the director’s wife all her trou- 
bles. 

But Mrs. Bixby was a busy lady, and she said, 
“ Not now, dearie. You skittle home, and to- 
morrow maybe I can take a couple hours off to 
hear your tale of woe. You know you’ve al- 
ready told me your swagger relatives would 
throw a fit if they knew what you were up to. 
Well, I guess it’s about fit time ! ” 

Azalea disliked her style of speech, but Mrs. 
Bixby was kind hearted, and she had hoped 
to have her for a confidante. However, there 
was no chnce then, for Mrs. Bixby hustled her 
off to the trolley-car, and Azalea went home 
to Wistaria Porch. 


[202 3 


CHAPTER XIII 


“ STAR OF THE WEST 

~JL the way home Azalea wondered how 
she would be received. 



Both Patty and Bill were somewhat 
suspicious of her and would naturally question 
her as to where she had been all day. She 
was tempted to tell them the whole truth and 
throw herself on their mercy, and but for one 
thing she would have done so. This was the 
fact that she had previously taken the baby, 
Fleurette, over to the studios and had used 
the child in the pictures. 

This she felt quite sure the Farnsworths 
would not forgive. 

Azalea would not have done it, if it had oc- 
curred to her at first how the parents would 
resent such use of their child. But Mr. Bixby 
had needed a very young baby in a certain pic- 
ture and Azalea, anxious to please, had offered 
to bring Fleurette over. She was herself so 
devoted to the little one and so careful of her, 


1 203 ] 


Patty and Azalea 

she felt no fear of any harm coming to her. 
Nor did it, for the infant was good and tract- 
able, and did all that was required of her with- 
out any trouble. However, little was required 
except for her to coo and gurgle in one scene, 
and to lie quietly asleep in another. 

But there was one more short scene where 
Azalea had to rescue the baby from a burning 
house. To be sure the flames were artificial 
and there was no danger from the fire, but the 
baby was thrown from an upper window, and 
caught by Azalea, who stood down on the 
ground. 

So accustomed was Fleurette to being tossed 
about, and so familiar to her was the frolick- 
ing with Azalea that she made no objections 
and was a most delightful addition to the pic- 
ture. 

But something happened to the film, and the 
director was most anxious to take the scene 
over again. 

Azalea, however, positively refused to take 
Fleurette again to the studio. She knew how 
she would be censured, should it be found out, 
and now Nurse Winnie and the two Farns- 
worths, as well as Elise, were all watching for 
anything mysterious that Azalea might do. 
[204] 


“ Star of the West ” 


She felt almost as if she were living over a 
slumbering volcano, that might at any moment 
blow her up. For Elise, she felt sure, would 
not keep the sampler incident to herself, and if 
Farnsworth heard of it he would be newly 
angry at that deception. 

So Azalea’s delight at her success with the 
moving-picture company was very much tem- 
pered with dismay at her position in the Farns- 
worth household. 

She was almost tempted to run away from 
them altogether and shift for herself. 

Indeed, she practically decided, as she rode 
in the trolley-car, that if they were hard on her 
when she reached home, she would run away. 
Of a wayward disposition and without really 
good early training, Azalea thought only of 
herself, and selfishly desired her own advance- 
ment without thought or regard for other 
people. 

But, to her pleased surprise, when she entered 
the gate she heard gay voices on the verandah, 
and knew that guests were there, — and several 
of them. 

Unwilling to meet them in her street clothes, 
she slipped around to the back entrance and 
went in at the servants’ door. 

[ 205 ] 


Patty and Azalea 

“ I don’t want to appear until I can dress,” 
she explained to the cook, and went upstairs by 
a back way. 

Half an hour later, a very different looking 
Azalea went down the front staircase and out 
onto the porch. 

She wore a becoming dress of flowered organ- 
die, with knots of bright velvet, and her pretty 
hair was carefully arranged. 

Smiling and happy-looking, she met the guests 
and greeted them with a graceful cordiality. 

“Where have you been?” cried Elise, but 
Azalea ignored the question and quickly spoke 
to some one else. 

Mona and Roger Farrington were there, and 
Philip Van Reypen and Chick Channing. This 
quartette had motored up from New York to 
dine, and Patty had already persuaded them to 
say they would stay over night. 

“ I’m crazy for a house party,” she said, 
“ haven’t had one for ’most a week! Oh, yes. 
Eve a couple of house guests, but I mean a real 
party. Let’s make it a week-end, and have lots 
of fun!” 

The visitors were entirely willing, and after 
telephoning home for additional apparel, they 
settled down to enjoy themselves. 

[206] 


Star of the West 


As they hadn’t much more than accomplished 
this settling when Azalea arrived, there was no 
comment made on her absence all day. 

In fact, Patty rather forgot about it, in the 
multitude of her conferences with the house- 
keeper and the maids. 

Farnsworth said nothing in the presence of 
the guests, and Elise, after her first exclama- 
tion, subsided. 

In fact, Elise was more interested in the 
society of Channing and Van Reypen than in 
the mystery of Azalea’s disappearances. 

Betty and Ray Gale had been telephoned for, 
and they came gladly, so that at dinner there 
was quite a big party. 

44 You certainly are a great little old hostess, 
Patty!” exclaimed Roger Farrington, as they 
seated themselves at table. 44 I liked you heaps 
as a girl, but as mistress of a fine house you 
are even more charming.” 

“Thank you, Sir Hubert Stanley!” smiled 
Patty; “ and I’m glad to admit that I learned 
a lot about managing a house from your gifted 
w T ife. Do you remember, Mona, how we kept 
house down at 4 Red Chimneys ’? ” 

44 Indeed I do ! ” Mona answered, 44 what fun 
we had that summer! ” 

[207] 


Patty and Azalea 

“I’ll subscribe to that!” declared Farns- 
worth, “ for it was then and there that I met 
the lady who is now my wife ! And, — I kissed 
her the moment I saw her! ” 

“Oh, Cousin William!” cried Azalea, “did 
you really? What did she say?” 

“ Flew at me like a small cyclone of wrath ! 
But as I had mistaken her for my cousin Mona, 
she couldn’t hold me very guilty.” 

“Yes! A lot Patty looks like me!” said 
Mona, who was a dark-haired beauty. 

“But I didn’t see her face,” pleaded Bill; 
“ I just saw a girl on the verandah of your 
house, Mona, and I took it for granted it was 
you ! ” 

“ It’s all ancient history,” said Patty, laugh- 
ing. “ And, to tell the truth, I’m glad it hap- 
pened, — for otherwise, I mightn’t have become 
interested in — Mona’s cousin.” 

“Then I bless my mistake!” said Farns- 
worth, so fervently that Patty shook her head 
at him. 

“ Mustn’t talk so before folks,” she said, re- 
provingly. “ Now, people all, what shall we 
do with this lovely evening? It’s moonlight, 
so any who are romantically inclined can ramble 
about the place, and flirt in the arbours, — 
[ 208 ] 


“ Star of the West ” 


while those who prefer can play bridge or — • 
the piano. Or just sit and chat.” 

“Me for the last!” cried Mona. “I’ve 
oceans to talk about with you, Patty. Can’t 
we play all by ourselves for a little while? ” 

“ Certainly,” said Patty, as she rose from the 
table. “ Mona and I are going to sit on the 
wistaria porch and gossip for half an hour. 
After that, we’re all going to dance, — and may- 
be sing.” 

“ Good enough programme,” agreed Van 
Reypen. “ For one half-hour, then, each may 
do as he or she wishes! ” 

“ Yes, if you all promise to be back here in 
half an hour.” 

“ Make it an hour, Patty,” laughed Elise, who 
had her own plans. 

“ All right,” said Patty, carelessly, who cared 
only that her guests should enjoy themselves. 

“ I want to tell you something,” Mona said, 
as she and Patty at last were alone on the 
porch. “ Who is Azalea? ” 

“ I call that asking, not telling,” laughed 
Patty; “however, I’ll reply. She is Bill’s 
cousin, — not first cousin, but the daughter of his 
father’s cousin. So you see, — a distant cousin. 
Why?” 


[209] 


Patty and Azalea 

“ I’ll tell you why. Roger and I go to the 
‘ movies ’ sometimes, — and in a picture, the 
other night, we saw Azalea.” 

“Saw Azalea! You mean some one who 
looked like her.” 

“No; Azalea Thorpe herself! Roger and I 
both knew her at once. And it was quite a new 
picture, — taken recently, I mean. Did you 
know she did such things? ” 

“ No, and I can’t think she does. It must 
have been only a remarkable resemblance, 
Mona.” 

“ No, Patty. We’re positive. And, too, she 
was doing Wild West stunts, — riding bareback, 
shooting, throwing a lariat, — all those things, 
— and Azalea can, you know.” 

“Yes, I know; and there is something queer 
going on. It may be that when Azalea goes 
off for a day or part of a day, that’s where she 
goes. But I can hardly believe it. And why 
does she keep it so secret? ” 

“ I suppose she thinks you and Bill wouldn’t 
approve.” 

“ And we certainly would not ! I don’t think 
it can be possible, Mona. But don’t say any- 
thing to anybody, — not even to Little Billee, 
— until I can talk to Azalea, myself. I can do 
[ 210 ] 


“ Star of the West ” 

lots with her, alone, but not if anybody else 
is present.” 

“ Where is she now? ” 

“ Gone for a moonlight stroll with Phil. 
He’s decidedly taken with her.” 

“ Yes, I know it. He said so on the way up 
here. He thinks she’s a fine girl — and he 
admires those careless, unconventional ways of 
hers.” 

“ Well, I don’t,” Patty sighed. “ I like Aza- 
lea for lots of things, — she’s good company 
and kind-hearted, — and she’s devoted to Baby, 
— but I can’t like those free and easy manners ! 
But she’s a whole lot better than when she first 
came ! Then she was really a wild Indian ! 
I’ve been able to tone her down a little.” 

“You’ve dpne wonders for her, Patty. She 
ought to be very grateful.” 

Patty made a wry face. “ No, she isn’t grate- 
ful. People never are grateful for that sort of 
thing. And she doesn’t even know she’s dif- 
ferent ! I’ve had to train her without her own 
knowledge ! But she’s chameleon-like, in some 
ways, and she picks up a lot just from being 
with mannerly people.” 

“ She does indeed ! She’s quite correct now, 
— in her actual doings. It’s only in some burst 
[ 211 ] 


Patty and Azalea 

of enthusiasm that she oversteps the bounds of 
propriety. Well, that’s all. I thought I’d tell 
you, — for it isn’t right that you shouldn’t know. 
And there’s no mistake. There’s only one Aza- 
lea Thorpe.” 

“ Was her name on the programme? ” 

“No; she didn’t have a star part, — not even 
a named part. She was one of a crowd, — cow- 
boys, ranch girls, and a general horde of 
‘woollies.’ Don’t accuse her of it, Patty; get 
around her and see what she says.” 

“ Goodness, Mona, give me credit for a little 
tact! I’ll find out in the best way. What was 
the name of the play? ” 

“ ‘ Star of the West.’ A splendid thing, — 
have you seen it? ” 

“ No; we almost never go.” 

“ Oh, we go a lot, we love moving pictures.” 

“ I’d like to see this one, — before I speak to 
Azalea. Is it on now?” 

“ Yes, at The Campanile. Let’s go down to- 
morrow, — just you and me. We can be back 
in a couple of hours.” 

“ Well, I’ll see. Probably I can go.” 

In the meantime, Azalea and Van Reypen 
were talking of the same play. 

“I saw a picture play last night,” Phil was 
[212] 


11 Star of the West ” 

saying, “ with a girl in it that looked exactly 
like you.” 

“ What was the play?” asked Azalea, inter- 
estedly. 

Star of the West.’ It was a good play, but 
I was most interested in the girl I speak of. 
She was really your double, — but she did things 
that I don’t believe you could compass, — ath- 
letic as you are.” 

“ I’d like to see it,” said Azalea, thoughtfully. 

“ Oh, go with me, will you? I’m going to 
stay up here over the week-end, — and we could 
skip down to-morrow afternoon, and be back 
by dinner time.” 

“ I’d love to go, — but Patty doesn’t greatly 
approve of the ‘ movies.’ ” 

“ Oh, never mind that. You’ve a right to go, 
if you choose. And you needn’t say where 
we’re going, till we get back. Say we’re going 
to take in a matinee.” 

“ Well, I’ll go,” Azalea said decidedly, “ for 
I’m crazy to see that play. What’s the girl’s 
name? ” 

“ Dunno. It wasn’t on the bill. But, truly, 
Azalea, you’ll be surprised to see how much 
like you she is ! ” 

Azalea hesitated. She knew it was taking a 
[ 213 ] 


Patty and Azalea 

great risk to go with Phil, but she was most 
anxious to see how she looked on the screen. 

This, she knew, was the first picture released 
in which she had taken a part. It was only a 
small part, but she had done well, the manager 
said, and that had been the reason for her 
further advancement. 

She had wanted to see it over at the studio, 
but her visits there had been so hurried, and she 
had been so eager to get back, she never dared 
take the time to see the pictures exhibited. 

The two returned to the house, and Patty 
greeted them gaily. 

“ Well, wanderers, you’re the last of the com- 
pany to report! Where have you been?” 

“ Surveying your domain, ma’am,” Phil re- 
plied; “it’s most beautiful by moonlight, — es- 
pecially when viewed in company with a fair 
lady.” 

He bowed gallantly to Azalea, who was look- 
ing her best, — a slight blush of excitement on 
her cheeks at the compliment. 

“It is lovely,” she said; “the house, from 
the west lawn, is a wonderful picture ! Patty, 
Mr. Van Reypen has asked me to go to New 
York with him to-morrow afternoon, — to a 
matinee. May I?” 

[214] 


“ Star of the West ” 


“ Certainly, my child. And as Mona and I 
are going down in the early afternoon, we’ll all 
go together in the big car.” 

Then all went to the hall for a dance. The 
large reception hall was admirably adapted for 
this purpose, and the strains of a fine phono- 
graph soon set all feet in motion. 

Dancing with Raymond Gale, Azalea pirou- 
etted gaily with some fancy steps. 

“Good! ” he cried, falling into the spirit of 
the thing, and they pranced about in a mad 
whirl. 

“ How Western she is,” Elise. said to Phil, 
with whom she was sedately one-stepping. 

“ Clever dancer,” he returned, briefly, and the 
subject was not continued. 

“ Come for a walk,” said Gale to Azalea, as 
the dance was over. 

“No; let’s sit on the porch a minute,” she 
preferred. 

“ Come along to this end, then, for I want to 
say something particular,” he urged, and they 
found a pleasant seat, from which they could 
see the moon through the leafy wistaria 
branches. 

“ Look here, Azalea,” Gale began, “ I know 
what you’re up to, — with the Bixbys.” 

[2i 5 ] 


Patty and Azalea 

“What! ” Azalea’s voice was full of fear. 

“Yes, and there’s no reason you should be 
so secretive about it.” 

“Oh, Raymond, — there is reason! Don’t 
tell on me, will you? ” 

“ Of course not, — if you forbid it. But when 
Farnsworth asks me, what am I to say? ” 

“ What does he ask you? ” 

“ Who the Bixbys are. And other awkward 
questions. You see, I know old Bixby, — and 
I knew as soon as I saw him here that day that 
he had drawn you into his snares.” 

“ Don’t put it that way — I wasn’t exactly 
drawn in.” 

“ Well, you’re in, all right. Why, Azalea, I 
saw you in a picture in New York, night before 
last.” 

“You did?” 

“ Yes; in 1 Star of the West.’ Don’t try to fib 
out of it ” 

“What!” 

“ Now you needn’t get mad! I know you’re 
not entirely above a little fibbing, now and 
then ! ” 

“ I think I’ll go in the house, — I don’t like 
you.” 

“ Oh, Zaly, behave yourself. Be a sensible 
[216] 


11 Star of the West ” 


girl, and face the music! Why don’t you own 
it all up, and tell Farnsworth the whole story? 
It isn’t a criminal thing to act in the ‘ movies.’ ” 

“ They think it is, — Bill and Patty. They’d 
never forgive me ! ” 

“ Oh, pshaw, they would, too ! Anyway, I 
want you to do it, — tell ’em, I mean. Won’t 
you, Zaly, — won’t you, — for my sake?” 

Gale was sincere and earnest, and Azalea 
thrilled to the strong tenderness in his voice 
as he urged her. 

But she hesitated to consent. 

“ I can’t, Ray,” she said, at last. “ Truly, 
I can’t. They’d — they’d turn me off ” 

“ Oh, Azalea, what nonsense ! They’d do no 
such thing! ” 

“ Yes, they would. You don’t know Bill. 
He’s good and generous and kind, — but he 
hates anything like deceit, — and almost worse, 
he hates the whole moving-picture racket. I 
don’t mean the pictures themselves, exactly, — 
but the idea of anybody of his being in them. 
And, oh, Ray, — it isn’t only myself, — but I 
took — I took ” 

“ I know, — you took the kiddy.” 

“ Yes, I did. It didn’t seem any harm, at 
first, and then, one day when I brought her 
[ 217] 


Patty and Azalea 

home, — she was sleepy, — unusually so, I mean, 
and Nurse said she had been given soothing 
sirup, — and — I found out afterward she had! 
Mrs. Bixby had given her some, to keep her 
quiet in the picture, you know. Of course, I 
never dreamed of such a thing, — why, Ray, 
that little girl is as dear to me, — almost, — as 
she is to Patty! I wouldn’t harm a hair of her 
blessed little curly head! And I’d never have 
allowed a drop of that sirup, if I’d known it! 
But I just gave her to Mrs. Bixby to hold, while 
I changed my costume, — Mrs. Bixby seems a 
good woman ” 

“ Oh, come now, I don’t believe it hurt the 
child.” 

“ You don’t know anything about such things. 
I don’t know much, but I know they must never 
have a bit of that stuff! Anyway, Ray, — we 
must go in now, — don’t give my secret away 
until I give you permission, will you?” 

“ No ; if you’ll promise to think it over and 
try to believe what I’ve told you, — that it’s best 
to tell all.” 

“ All right, I’ll promise that, and I may decide 
to tell. But I want to wait until after to- 
morrow, anyway.” 


[ 218 T 


CHAPTER XIV 


AT THE PICTURE PLAY 

B Y a little adroit manoeuvring Van Reypen 
managed things so that he and Azalea 
did not go to New York in the motor 
with Patty and Mona, but went down by them- 
selves in the train. 

For Azalea was most anxious that Patty should 
not know she was going to the moving pictures, 
and especially that she was going to see “ Star 
of the West.” 

It had already become a popular picture and 
was drawing crowds. And though Azalea’s 
part in it was a small one, yet her work was so 
good that one or two reviews had mentioned 
it approvingly. 

Azalea had hoped that it would be possible 
to let Van Reypen continue in his mistaken im- 
pression that the girl on the screen was not 
herself, but some one who looked marvellously 
like her. 


c 219] 


Patty and Azalea 

But the first sight of herself in the play so 
thrilled Azalea that she was unable to repress 
an exclamation of surprised delight. 

“It is you, Azalea!” whispered Phil, realis- 
ing the truth. “ How did you manage it? Oh, 
you wonderful girl! ” 

Azalea looked at him in astonishment. In the 
dim light of the theatre she could see his face 
glowing with pride and pleasure. 

She gave a little gasp. “ Oh, Phil, aren’t you 
— I mean — are you glad about it? ” 

“ I don’t know, — Azalea, — it seems so queer 
— but, oh, look at that! Did you really do 
that, Azalea ! ” 

For the girl on the screen had flung herself, 
bareback, on a vicious, bucking pony, and hold- 
ing on by his mane, went through the most 
hairbreadth escapes, yet was not thrown. In- 
deed, she finally tamed the wild creature, and 
dashed madly off on her errand. This was 
the rescue of a baby who had been left behind, 
when those who should have looked after the 
child were themselves fleeing from a cyclone. 

The scene was remarkably well staged, and 
the illusion of the cyclone wonderfully worked 
out. 

The baby, left to the care of servants, was in 
[ 220 ] 


At the Picture Play 

a lightly built house that rocked in the blasts. 
It threatened to collapse at any minute, and 
Azalea, racing against time, in the face of the 
gale, spurred on her flying steed, and reached 
the house just as it crashed to ruins. 

Flinging herself from the horse, she dashed 
into the piles of debris, and, the gale nearly 
blowing her off her feet, contrived to find the 
child. 

Of course, in the taking of the picture, Fleur- 
ette had been in no danger whatever; in fact, 
had not been in the falling house at all, until 
time for Azalea to find her in the ruins. 

But this was not apparent to the audience. 
To them it seemed that the baby must have 
been there all the time. 

Van Reypen sat breathless, watching the 
screen with rapt attention. 

He thought little of the baby’s danger, know- 
ing the methods of making pictures, but he was 
lost in admiration of Azalea, her fine athletic 
figure, and her free, strong motions, as she bat- 
tled with the winds and triumphantly snatched 
the baby from harm. 

Then, the child in one arm, she flung herself 
again on the pony’s back, the animal prancing 
wildly, but tractable beneath Azalea’s deter- 
[ 221 ] 


Patty and Azalea 

mined guidance, and they were off like the wind 
itself to a place of safety. The wild ride was 
picturesque, if frightful, and there was a burst 
of applause from the spectators, as Azalea, 
panting, exhausted, but safe, at last reached her 
goal, and leaning down from the horse, placed 
the baby in the arms of its weeping, distracted 
mother. 

Azalea’s beauty was of the sort that needs 
excitement or physical exertion to bring out its 
best effects and as she stood beside the quiver- 
ing, spent horse, her own heart beating quickly, 
her own breath coming hard, she was a picture 
of vivid beauty. 

Her dress was disordered, her hair hung in 
loosened coils, her collar was half torn off by 
the wind, but the happy smile and the justi- 
fiable pride in her success lighted up her coun- 
tenance till it was fairly radiant. 

“ By cricky, you’re stunning! ” exclaimed Phil, 
under his breath, as he grasped her hand in 
congratulation. 

And so, because of his praise and appreciation 
Azalea forgot her fears of censure from the 
Farnsworths and gave herself up to the de- 
lights of the moment. 

She would not have felt so comfortable had 
[ 222 ] 


At the Picture Play 

she heard Patty’s remarks at sight of the pic- 
ture. 

Patty and Mona had come to the theatre 
later than Azalea, and had been given seats on 
the other side of the large house. The dark- 
ness, too, made it unlikely that they should see 
each other, and so Azalea remained in blissful 
ignorance of Patty’s presence. 

“ Of course, it’s Azalea,” Patty said to Mona, 
the moment the girl appeared on the screen. 
“ I— oh, I don’t know what to think about it, — 
but, isn’t she splendid! ” 

“ She is ! That rig is most becoming to her, 
and she has such poise, — so strong and free, 
yet graceful.” 

“ She’s certainly at her best.” 

“ Of course, the director saw her possibilities 
and has brought out all her best points. How 
pretty her hair is, — loose, like that.” 

“ Yes, she’s a real beauty, — of the true 
breezy, Western type. But, Mona, what will 
Bill say? I do believe I shall feel more lenient 
about it all than he will! He is conservative, 
you know, for all his Western bringing up. 
Oh, my gracious, Mona, what’s she doing 
now? ” 


C 223 ] 


Patty arid Azalea 

“ She’ll kill herself with that wild horse ! She 
never can get on his back ! ” 

In a state of great excitement, they watched 
Azalea’s skilful management of the pony and 
clutched each other’s hands in speechless fear 
as she tore through the gale to rescue her 
brother’s child. 

And then — when at last Azalea emerged 
from the tumbled-down ruin of the little old 
house, with a baby in her arms, Patty gave a 
cry of startled fear, and then clapped her hand 
over her mouth, lest her dismay be too evident 
to those sitting near by. 

“ Mona ! ” she whispered, “ it’s Fleurette ! ” 

“No! I don’t believe it! You can’t tell, — 
such a little baby — they all look alike, — you’re 
imagining, Patty ” 

“It is! it is! That’s where they went when 
Azalea took Baby off for a whole day, — and 
two or three times for an afternoon or a morn- 
ing! Oh, I can’t stand it! ” 

Patty buried her face in her hands and re- 
fused to look up while Azalea rode the gallop- 
ing horse, with the child held fast in one 
arm. 

Mona felt it must be true. To be sure she 
couldn’t really recognise Fleurette’s face, but 
[ 224 I 


At the Picture Play 

she was certain that Patty’s mother heart could] 
make no mistake, and it was small wonder that 
she was overcome at seeing her child in such 
scenes. 

“ Hush, Patty,” said Mona, as Patty’s sobs 
began to sound hysterical, “ hush, — this is only 
a picture, you know, — this isn’t really Fleur- 
ette, — she is safe at home — — ” 

“ But she must have been here ! Azalea must 
have carried her, really — on that terrific horse ! 
They couldn’t have got the pictures if she 
hadn’t!” 

“ Well, it’s all right, anyway. It didn’t hurt 
the baby ” 

“ Oh, hush, Mona ! you don’t know what I’m 
suffering! I guess if your baby had been taken 
off and put through such awful doings, you’d 
know what I feel ! My baby, — my little flower 
baby! In that awful crashing, tumbling down 
old shanty! Oh, I can’t stand it! ” 

“ Let’s go out, Patty, there’s no reason for 
us to stay longer.” 

“Yes, let’s,” and gathering up her wraps, 
Patty rose to go. 

They made their way out of the dark, 
crowded place, and finding the motor-car, they 
went straight home. 

[225] 


Patty and Azalea 

Once there, Patty flew to the nursery, and 
fairly snatching the baby from Nurse Winnie’s 
arms, she held it close, and crooned loving little 
broken songs. 

“You’re all right,” Mona said, laughing at 
her. “ You’ve got your baby, safe and sound, 
— now just sit down there and enjoy her for 
a while.” 

This Patty gladly did, and Mona went in 
search of Farnsworth. 

She finally found him, down in a distant gar- 
den, where he was looking after some planting 
matters. 

“ Come along o’ me,” she said, smiling at 
him. 

Wonderingly Farnsworth looked up. 

“ Thought you girls went to the city,” he 
said. 

“ We did, — also, we returned. Patty is in 
the nursery, and I want a few minutes’ talk 
with you.” 

“ O. K.,” and the big man gave some parting 
instructions to a gardener and then went off 
with Mona. She led him to a nearby arbour, 
and commenced at once. 

“ You and I are old friends,” she said, “ and 
so Pm going to take an old friend’s privilege 
[ 226 ] 


At the Picture Play 

and give you some advice, and also ask a few 
questions. First, who is Azalea ? ” 

“ My two or three times removed cousin.” 

“ Are you sure? ” 

Farnsworth looked at her. “What do you 
mean, Mona?” 

“ What I say; are you sure ? ” 

“ Funny thing to ask. Well, — I am and — 
Pm not.” 

“ Now, what do you mean? ” 

“ I’ll tell you.” And then he told her how 
queer he thought it that Azalea had had no 
letters from her father since her arrival, — nor 
any letters at all from Horner’s Corners. 

“And she’s so sly about it,” he wound up; 
“ why once she wrote a letter to herself, and 
pretended it was from her father! ” 

“ I can’t make it out,” Mona mused. “ If 
her father were dead, she’d have no reason 
to conceal the fact. Nor if he had remar- 
ried. And if he has done anything disgrace- 
ful maybe that’s it, Bill! Maybe he’s in 

jail!” 

“ I’ve thought of that, Mona, and, of course, 
it’s a possibility. That would explain her not 
getting letters, and her unwillingness to tell the 
reason. But, — somehow, it isn’t very plaus- 
[ 227] 


Patty and Azalea 

ible. Why shouldn’t she confide in me? I’ve 
begged her to, — and no matter what Uncle 
Thorpe may have done, it’s no real reflection 
on Azalea.” 

“ No ; but now I’ve something to tell you about 
the girl.” 

Mona gave him a full account of the moving- 
picture play that she and Patty had visited, and 
told him, too, of Patty’s distress over the pic- 
tures of Fleurette. 

Farnsworth was greatly amazed, but, like 
Mona, he knew Patty could not be mistaken as 
to the identity of Fleurette. 

“ And I just thought,” Mona went on, “ that 
I’d tell you before Patty did, — for, — oh, 
well, this is my real reason, — Patty is so 
wrought up and so wild over the Fleurette 
matter that she can’t judge Azalea fairly, — 
and I don’t want to have injustice done to her 
at this stage of the game. For, Bill, Azalea 
has real talent, — real dramatic genius, I think, 
and if there’s no reason against it, — except con- 
ventional ones, — I think she ought to be al- 
lowed to become a motion-picture actress. 
She’s bound to make good, — she has the right 
sort of a face for the screen, — beautiful, mobile, 
[228] 


At the Picture Play 

expressive, and really, a speaking countenance. 
Why, she’d make fame and fortune, I’m posi- 
tive.” 

“ Oh, Mona ! what utter rubbish ! One of our 
people in the ‘ movies ’ ! Impossible ! ” 

“ I knew you’d say that! And I know Patty 
will say— oh, good Heavens, I don’t know 
wh at Patty will say ! But I do know this ; she 
would have been sensible and would have felt 
just as I do about it, if it hadn’t been for the 
Fleurette part of it. Before the baby appeared 
on the screen Patty was really delighted with 
Azalea. She was enthusiastic about her talent 
and her beauty, — really, Bill, she looked very 
beautiful in the pictures.” 

“ Oh, Zaly is good-looking enough. But her 
taking our baby is — why, there’s no term suit- 
able ! Where is Azalea! ” 

“ I hope nowhere near, while you look like 
that! ” and Mona laughed. “ Your expression 
is positively murderous! ” 

“ I feel almost that way! Just think, Mona, 
Azalea is my relative ! I inflicted her on Patty, 

— poor little Patty ” 

“ Oh, come now, Bill, don’t overdo it! Aza- 
lea was most daring and even foolish, — but not 
[ 229 ] 


Patty and Azalea 

criminal. You know how she loves that child, 
and you know she wouldn’t let harm come near 
her.” 

“ But accidents might happen, — for all Aza- 
lea’s care and watchfulness ” 

“ I know that, but an accident might happen 
to Winnie when she takes Baby out in her 
coach ! ” 

“ Are you standing up for Azalea ? ” 

“That’s just what I’m doing! I’m glad 
you’ve got it through your head at last. And 
I ask this of you, old friend. Whatever you do 
or say to Azalea, think it well over beforehand. 
If you talk to Patty, as she is feeling now you’ll 
both be ready to tar and feather poor Zaly; 
and, truly, she doesn’t deserve it! Please, Bill, 
go slow, — and be just. Be generous if you can, 
— but at any rate, be just. That’s all I ask. 
And you can’t be just if you act on impulse, — 
so, go slow. Will you? ” 

“ Yes, Mona, — there’s my hand on it. We’re 
not often over-impulsive, — Patty and I, — but 
in this case we may be, — might have been, — 
if you hadn’t warned me. You’re a good girl, 
Mona, and I thank you for your foresight and 
real kindness.” 

And so Farnsworth went in search of Patty 
[230] 


At the Picture Play 

with a resolve to try to reason out the matter 
with a fair consideration of all sides of it. 

He found his wife and daughter in the nurs- 
ery. 

Patty had sent Winnie off, feeling that she 
must hold Fleurette in her arms for some time, 
in order to realise that she was safe from the 
whirling winds of that awful cyclone ! 

When Bill appeared, Patty began at once, and 
launched forth a full description of the picture 
play, and of Azalea’s and Fleurette’s parts in 
it. 

Farnsworth sat looking at her, his blue eyes 
full of a contented admiration. To this simple- 
minded, big-hearted man, his wife and child 
represented the whole world. All he had, all he 
owned, he valued only for the pleasure it might 
mean to them. 

“ Darling,” he said, as she finished the tale, 
“ what do you think about it all? ” 

“ Mona’s been talking to you ! ” Patty cried, 
with sudden intuition. 

“What! How do you know? You clair- 
voyant! ” 

“ Of course I know,” and Patty wagged a wise 
head at him. “ First, because you’re not suffi- 
ciently surprised, — she told you all about it! 
[231 ] 


Patty and Azalea 

And second, because you’re not furious at Aza- 
lea I Mona has talked you around to her way 
of thinking, — which is, that Azalea is a genius, 
— and that ” 

“ That Fleurette is another! Think of being 
on the screen at the tender age of six months ! ” 

“ You’re a wretch! you’re a monster! you’re 
a — a — dromedary ! ” 

Patty was feeling decidedly better about the 
whole matter. Having sat for nearly an hour, 
holding and fondling her idolised child, she 
realised that whatever Fleurette had gone 
through, she was safe now, — and that what- 
ever was to be done to Azalea by way of pun- 
ishment, was more Bill’s affair than hers. 

“ You don’t care two cents for your wonder- 
child! Your own little buttercup, — your daffy- 
downdilly baby!” she cried, in pretended re- 
proof, and then Farnsworth took Fleurette and 
tossed her about until she squealed with glee. 

“ Oh, I guess we’ll keep her,” he said, as he 
handed her back to her mother’s arms. “ She’s 
the paragon baby of the whole world, even if 
I don’t appreciate her.” 

“ Oh, you do! you do! ” exclaimed Patty, re- 
morseful now at having teased him. “ And 
now, Sweet William, what’s your idea of a right 
[ 232] 


At the Picture Play 

and proper punishment for Cousin Azalea ?” 

“ That’s a matter for some thought,” he re- 
sponded, mindful of Mona’s words. “ Look 
here, Patty, quite aside from Fleurette’s con- 
nection with this case, — what’s your opinion of 
Zaly as a ‘ movie ’ star? ” 

“ She’s great, dear, — she really is. And — if 
she weren’t our relative ” 

“ My relative ” 

“ Our relative, I should advise her to go in for 
the thing seriously; but, — I may be over-con- 
sqrvative, — even snobbish, but I do hate to 
have our cousin’s portrait all over the fences 
and ashbarrels, and in all the Sunday papers, 
and ” 

“ I don’t mind that publicity so much as I do 
the possible effects on Azalea’s life. I don’t 
know that the career of a ‘ movie ’ star is as full 
of dangerous pitfalls as the theatrical line, but 
— I hate to see Azalea subjected to them, — for 
her own sake.” 

“ Pm not sure we’ll have anything to say in 
the matter,” Patty observed, thoughtfully. 

“ She may take the bit in her own teeth. 
After seeing her break that bucking broncho 
to-day, — I don’t think her as tractable and easily 
influenced as I did! ” 


[233] 


Patty and Azalea 

“ How’s this plan, dearest? Suppose we don’t 
tell Azalea, for the moment, that you saw the 
picture to-day, and see what she’ll do next.” 

“ All right, I’d be glad to think it over a little. 
We’ll warn Mona not to give it away, — and no- 
body else knows we went there.” 

“ Of course, I’ll take up the matter of Fleur- 
ette with Azalea, separately,” Farnsworth 
went on. “ But even if she’s determined on 
her career, I feel sure we can persuade her to 
leave her little assistant out of it! ” 

“ I rather just guess we can ! ” and Patty 
cuddled the baby to her breast. “ Well, the 
crowd will gather on the porch soon. I’ll 
make a fresh toilette and play the serene host- 
ess, once again.” 

Fleurette was given over to Winnie, and 
Patty, calm and happy now, ran off to dress. 

“ You’re such a darling, — Big Billee,” she 
whispered turning back to her husband, and 
she went into his embracing arms; “ you always 
know just what is right to do.” 

“ Especially when Mona coaches me before- 
hand,” he laughed, unwilling to deceive her in 
the slightest degree. 

“Pooh,” said Patty, “you’re so right, even 
Mona can’t make you any righter! ” 

1 234 ] 


CHAPTER XV 


SOME RECORDS 

“ Sur le pont 
D f Avignon, 

On y dansait , on y dansait , 

Sur le pont 
D } Avignon, 

On y dansait tout le rond! ” 

P ATTY’S sweet, clear soprano notes rang 
out gaily as she trilled the little song she 
had picked up in France. 

“ What a pretty thing,” cried Elise, “ teach 
it to me, do, Patty.” 

“ All right, I will. But there’s a record of it, 
— my singing, — for the phonograph. You’ll 
learn it better from that” 

“All right; Chick, come and find the record 
for me.” 

The two went into the library, leaving the 
others on the porch. 

[235] 


Patty and Azalea 

It was Sunday afternoon, and everybody was 
idle and happy. Patty was a good hostess and 
did not bother her guests by over-entertaining 
them. 

But at Wistaria Porch there was always 
enough to do, if any one wanted to do it, — and 
delightful lounging places, if one were indo- 
lently inclined. 

Searching among the catalogued records, 
Chick easily found the one Elise wanted. 

“ What a lot of records they have of the 
baby’s voice! ” he exclaimed.” 

“Yes,” Elise assented, “they make them on 
all occasions. Patty’s keeping them for her, 
when she grows up. Clever idea.” 

“ Yes, but she’ll have to build a town hall to 
keep them in ! The child hasn’t begun to talk 
yet, but here are dozens ” 

“ Oh, well, they’ll weed them out. Some of 
them are awful cunning, — and one is a first- 
class crying spell! They never could get but 
one of Fleurette crying, she’s such a good- 
natured kiddy. All right, Chick, — start it off.” 

They listened to the pretty little chanson , and 
repeated it until Elise felt satisfied she had 
added it to her repertory. 

Just as she finished Betty Gale came flying in. 
[236] 


Some Records 

“ Skip into your togs, Elise, and come for a 
drive with us,” she said. “ IVe corralled Bill 
and Patty, — and Ray wants you, — and I,” she 
looked saucily at Channing, “ I want Mr. 
Chick.” 

“We’re with you to the last ditch! ” Chan- 
ning replied and Elise went off for her hat. 

“Shall I put away these records?” Chick 
asked looking at several they had been using. 

“ No,” said Betty, carelessly, “ Patty has 
hordes of minions who do such things. Leave 
them, and get your duster on. We’re off, — 
pronto! ” 

“ Where’s Azalea? ” Raymond Gale inquired, 
as, a few moments later, he had his merry party 
in his car, and took hold of the wheel. 

“ She and Van Reypen went for a long walk,” 
Farnsworth replied. “And the married Far- 
ringtons have gone back to town, so this is all 
our party — for the moment.” 

“All right; here we go, then.” And the big 
car rolled down the driveway. 

“I hesitated about going,” Patty demurred, 
“ for it’s Winnie’s Sunday out, and I had to 
leave baby with Janet. I’ve never done it be- 
fore.” 

“ Oh, well,” Betty laughed, “ she’ll probably 

[ 237 ] 


Patty and Azalea 

sleep till you get back. Don’t babies always 
sleep all the afternoon?” 

“ Not always, but Fleurette often does. Oh, 
of course, she’ll be all right.” 

“ And Azalea isn’t there,” she added, in a 
low tone to her husband. 

And indeed, just then, Azalea was far away 
from there. 

She and Phil had gone for the sort of walk 
they both loved, — along woodland paths, cross- 
lots, now and then back on the highroad, and 
if they got too far to walk back, prepared to 
return by train or trolley. 

The two were congenial spirits, which fact had 
rather surprised Van Reypen’s friends. For 
he was a conservative, fastidious aristocrat, 
and though Azalea’s rough edges had been rub- 
bed down a bit by Patty’s training, she was still 
of a very different type from the Van Reypen 
stock. 

But they both loved the open, and they strode 
along, chatting or silent as fitted their mood. 

“What’s in your mind just now, Brownie?” 
he asked, as Azalea looked thoughtful. 

“ Why, — a queer sort of a notion. Did you 
ever have a premonition, — a sort of feeling 
that you ought to do something ” 

[238] 


Some Records 


“A hunch? ” 

“ Yes; a presentiment that unless you do what 
you’re told to do, there’ll be trouble ” 

“ Who told you? ” 

“ That’s just it. Tobody, — except a — oh, a 
mysterious force, a — just an impulse, you know.” 

“ Obey it if you like. May I go, too?” 

“Well, it’s this. Just before we turned that 
last corner a motor passed us, you know.” 

“ Yes, I saw it. One of Farnsworth’s, — with 
some of the servants in it.” 

“ It was. Patty gives them rides in turn. 
Now, Winnie the nurse was in, and so it must 
be her Sunday out. And, of course, Patty is 
home there with the baby, — she never leaves 
her if Winnie’s away, but still — I feel as if 
I must go home to look after that child! ” 

“ Is that all? Let’s go, then. We can walk 
back as well as to go on.” 

“ But, — don’t laugh, now, — I feel we ought to 
hurry. Let’s take the trolley-car, — it isn’t far 
to the line.” 

“ You sure have got a hunch! But your will 
is my law r . Wish we were near a garage, — I’m 
not a bit fond of Sunday trolley riding! ” 

“ I’m not either, — but, Phil, you’re awful 
good not to laugh at me.” 

[239] 


Patty and Azalea 

“ Bless your soul, I’ve no notion of laughing 
at you! Your presentiment may be the real 
thing, — for all I know. Anyway, if you want 
to go home, you’re going.” 

So go they did, and, by the trolley-car route, 
arrived at the house in half an hour. 

As they passed the Gales’ place, on their way 
from the car-line to the house, Van Reypen 
said, “ Guess I’ll stop here a minute if you don’t 
mind. I left my pet pipe here yesterday. Skip 
along home, and I’ll follow.” 

Azalea went on and was surprised to find the 
house deserted. 

She went straight to the nursery, and found 
Fleurette in the care of Janet, who was sub- 
stitute nurse in Winnie’s absence. 

“ Everything all right, Janet? ” said Azalea. 

“ Yes, Miss Thorpe. Baby’s had her milk, 
and I think she’ll soon go to sleep.” 

“ She doesn’t look much like it now,” and 
Azalea smiled at the gurgling, laughing child, 
who was wide awake and in frolicsome 
mood. 

“Where’s Mrs. Farnsworth?” Azalea asked. 

“ She went motoring with Miss Gale. They 
all went, — and all the help have gone too. I’m 
alone in the house with the baby.” 

c 240] 


Some Records 

“ Glad I came home, then. Mr. Van Reypen 
is here too, and I think I’ll take Fleurette down 
on the porch for half an hour. When she gets 
sleepy I’ll bring her up here.” 

“ Very well, Miss Thorpe. I’ll be here.” 

Janet busied herself about the nursery and 
Azalea went downstairs with the baby in her 
arms. 

On the vine-shaded porch they sat, and as Van 
Reypen stayed chatting with some of the Gale 
family, Azalea and the baby were each other’s 
sole companions. 

Their conversation was a little one-sided, but 
Azalea’s remarks were mostly eulogies and 
compliments and Fleurette’s engaging smiles 
seemed to betoken appreciation if not acknowl- 
edgment. 

A footstep approaching made Azalea look up. 

Before her stood Mr. Merritt, the assistant 
director of the film company. 

“ Good afternoon, Miss Thorpe,” he said, 
politely; “I see the little one is in a sunshiny 
mood.” 

“Yes;” Azalea returned, but her very soul 
quaked with fear. Well she knew what was in 
this man’s mind. 

“ And so, I’m going to ask you to run over to 
[ 241 ] 


Patty and Azalea 

the studio just a few minutes and give us one 
more chance at a good picture of that scene.” 

“ And I’m going to refuse,” Azalea returned 
with spirit. “ You know very well, Mr. Mer- 
ritt, that I’m not going to let you pose this child 
again.” 

“ I know you are , — and mighty quick, too,” 
he retorted, in a low voice, but tones of great 
determination. “ I know everybody is out, — 
you are practically alone in the house, and I 
know you’re coming with me, — willing or not! 
It won’t hurt the baby a mite, — I’ve my little 
car out in the road, — and if you don’t consent, 
—I’ll ” 

He voiced no threat, but Azalea felt pretty 
sure he meant to take the baby himself if she 
refused to go with them. 

She thought quickly, but no avenue of escape 
could she see. It would be utterly useless to 
call Janet, for she was a nervous, timid girl, 
and would probably run away at sight of this 
strange man. 

The nursery, too, was on the other side of 
the house, and she couldn’t make Janet hear if 
she tried. 

The Gale house also was on the other side 
of the Farnsworth house, and so, indeed, if 
[ 242 ] 


Some Records 

Azalea chose to call for help, it would do no 
good. Doubtless Phil would be along shortly, 
but there was no telling, for there was always 
a merry crowd on the Gale’s piazza and he 
would stay there talking for a time. 

But Merritt was impatient, and he finally 
broke out with; “ Make up your mind, please, 
and quickly. Will you bring the baby quietly, 
or shall I just — take her along.” 

He held out his arms to Fleurette, who, al- 
ways ready to make friends with strangers, 
smiled and leaned toward him. 

Azalea had wild thoughts of running away, — 
anywhere, — but she knew the futility of such a 
plan. Merritt was a big and strong man, and 
though Azalea was a swift runner, she could 
not get a start without his intervening. 

She tried pleading. She appealed to his man- 
liness, his kindness, his generosity, — all with 
no success. 

“Don’t talk rubbish,” he said, shortly; “you 
know as well as I do, it won’t hurt the child. 
In fact, I came to get her to-day, myself, be- 
cause I knew her nurse was out, — and I saw 
you go off, — and later, all the rest of the bunch. 
If you hadn’t come back, — confound you! I’d 
have had that child over there by this time ! ” 

[243] 


Patty and Azalea 

Azalea gasped. So her premonition had been 
a true one after all! Had she not returned, 
Merritt would have easily overcome Janet and 
taken the baby off with him. She knew they 
would not harm Fleurette, — indeed, would be 
most careful of her. Unless, perhaps, they 
should give her soothing-sirup again. Well 
they’d get no chance, for Azalea was deter- 
mined the baby should not be taken from her, 
and she most certainly was not going herself. 

“ You know what it will mean to you,” Mer- 
ritt threatened; “if I so advise Bixby, he’ll 
throw you over. How’d you like to lose your 
job now that you’ve just begun to make good? ” 

“ That’s nothing to do with it,” Azalea said, 
trying to speak calmly and not show how 
frightened she was. 

But Merritt discerned it. 

“ All right,” he said, “ sorry you won’t listen 
to reason, — but since you won’t, — guess I’ll 
have to use force.” 

He took hold of Fleurette’s little arm, to lift 
her from Azalea’s lap, and the touch roused 
the girl’s wrath to boiling point. 

“ Don’t you dare ! ” she cried, holding the 
baby tightly. “ Leave,— leave at once ! or I’ll 
call for help ! ” 


[ 244] 


Some Records 


She rose, as if to make good her threat, 
though she knew there was no help within call. 

Merritt knew it too, and he laughed at her. 

“ Stop this nonsense, now,” he commanded 
roughly. u I’m going to accomplish what I 
came here for, so you may as well take it 
quietly. I can take the child without a whimper 
from her, — and you know it ! So, why not be 
sensible and come along too, and look out for 
her yourself? ” 

“You shall not take her!” Azalea looked 
like an angry tigress. 

“ Gee ! Wish I had you on the screen like 
that! You’re some picture!” 

“ Please, Mr. Merritt,” Azalea tried coaxing 
again, “ please believe me, — I can’t take Fleur- 
ette again. Her mother — why, Mr. Merritt, 
you have children of your own ” 

“ Sure I have ! That’s how I know how to 
treat ’em so well. If mine were only small 
enough, I wouldn’t need this little cutie. Well, 
here goes, then ! ” 

This time he laid such a definite hold on the 
baby, that Azalea could scarcely keep the child 
in her own arms. 

In her utter desperation, a new idea struck 
her. She would try strategy. 

[245] 


Patty and Azalea 

“ Oh, don’t 1” she cried, “rather than have 
you touch her, I’ll go — I’ll take her. Let me 
get her cap and coat.” 

“Where are they?” he asked, suspiciously. 

“ Right here, in the library, — just across the 
hall.” 

“ Go on, then, — I trust you, ’cause I think 
you’re sensible. I’d go along and keep you in 
sight, but I want to keep w r atch if anybody 
comes. But you sing, or whistle or something, 
so’s I’ll know you’re right there.” 

“ All right,” and Azalea’s heart beat fast, for 
she had a splendid scheme. 

Into the library she carried Fleurette, singing 
as she went, and once in the room, she put 
the baby on a chair and flew for the record 
rack. 

Quickly she found the record of the baby’s 
crying spell and put it in place in the phono- 
graph. 

Then, picking up Fleurette, she set the needle 
going and hurried from the room. 

Merritt, hearing the cries, screams and sobs, 
scowled with anger at the baby’s fit of ill tem- 
per, but never dreamed that it was not really 
the child crying at all. 

So Azalea had ample chance to escape by a 
[246]. 


Some Records 

back door from the library, and crossing the 
dining-room went out on a side porch that faced 
the Gale place. 

Looking carefully to see that Merritt had not 
followed her, and listening a moment to learn 
how much longer the record, — of which she 
knew every familiar sound, — would last, she 
ran with all the speed of which she was capable 
over to the Gales’. 

Van Reypen was just taking leave, and he, as 
well as the others present, looked in amazement 
at the flying figure coming nearer and nearer 
until Azalea reached the group. 

“Take her,” she said to Mrs. Gale, as she 
gave her the baby, “ keep her safe — safe! ” 

And then Azalea went flying back. 

The record was finished, — and with the sud- 
den stop of the child’s crying Merritt had 
started into the library to see what it meant. 

There Azalea found him, and she faced him 
bravely. 

“ That baby is safe,” she said, “ where you 
can’t get at her ! And now I will tell you what 
I think of you ! You are a thief and a scoun- 
drel ! You don’t deserve to be allowed to carry 
on a reputable business ! I don’t want any fur- 
ther connection with you or your company. I 
[247] 


Patty and Azalea 

am proud to be fired from such a lot of bandits 
as you people are ! ” 

So angry was she, and so unguarded as to what 
she was saying that she fairly flung the words 
at him. 

For a moment he was stunned at her wild 
tirade, and then his artist instinct was stirred, 
— for the picture she made was beautiful and 
dramatic. She had no thought of this, for she 
was in earnest, and her whole soul was up in 
arms at thought of the threatened abduction of 
Fleurette. And, so, knowing that the child 
was safe with Mrs. Gale, she let the vials of her 
wrath pour forth on the villain who had so 
aroused it, and her voice was raised in scath- 
ing obloquy. 

“All right!” Merritt said, as she paused 
from sheer want of breath, “ I’ll take my beat- 
ing, if you’ll go over to the studio with me 
and repeat this scene. Let me pose you while 
you’re in this humour, — you’ll never reach such 
heights again 1 ” 

“Nor will I ever pose for you again! I’m 
through with you, — all of you, and all the mov- 
ing-picture business ! I was warned to keep out 
of it, — but I didn’t know what wretches I would 
[248] 


Some Records 

find in it ! Go ! Go at once l and never let me 
see your face again ! ” 

It was at this moment that the Gale motor 
party returned. 

Patty and Bill, hearing Azalea’s loud tones, 
rushed to the library and found her there with 
Merritt. 

“Where’s Baby?” Patty cried, starting for 
the stairs. 

“ She’s safe, Patty,” Azalea said, stopping 
her. “ She’s all right, — she’s over to Mrs. 
Gale’s.” 

“Mrs. Gale’s!” and Patty flew off like the 
wind, caring for nothing but the assurance of 
her own eyes that Fleurette was safe. 

“ Help me, Bill,” said Azalea, going toward 
Farnsworth, “ you said once, you’d defend 
me.” 

“I will, dear. What’s this all about? Who 
are you?” He addressed Merritt quietly, but 
with a fire in his blue eyes that was disturbing. 

“ Merritt, of the Flicker Film Company, 
very much at your service,” and the man drew 
a card from his pocket and presented it. 

“ Well, Mr. Merritt, leave at once, and never 
return. I don’t care for your explanations or 
excuses. Simply go” 

[249] 


Patty and Azalea 

Merritt went. 

“ Is that right, Zaly? ” Bill said, as the crest- 
fallen visitor left them. “ I didn’t want any 
words with him, — for I might have lost my 
temper. I’d rather have the story from you.” 

“ And I’ll tell it to you, — all. But, oh, Bill, 
I’m so glad Fleurette is all right! ” 

“ She is so! ” and Patty came dancing on, with 
the smilingest child in the world. Van Reypen 
followed, and then the whole crowd drew to- 
gether anxious to know what the commotion 
was all about. 


1 250 ] 


CHAPTER XVI 


azalea's story 

“'\7 r ES, i’ll te u y 0U the w hole story,” Aza- 
lea repeated, addressing herself to 
Farnsworth, but glancing now and then 
at the others. 

“ On my way East, I met Mr. and Mrs. Bix- 
by on the train. They were pleasant people 
and Mrs. Bixby was very kind to me in many 
ways. Then, I learned that they were in the 
moving-picture business, and as I wanted to 
act myself, I cultivated their acquaintance all 
I could. And by the time we reached New 
York Mr. Bixby had agreed to give me a trial 
at his studio. He said I had the right type of 
face for the screen and if I could learn to act, 
my Western life had fitted me for some certain 
parts they were just then in need of. So I 
went in for it, — and I got along all right. 
Then they wanted a little baby in the picture 
and as I was so fond of Fleurette and loved her 
too much to let any harm come to her, I thought 
[251 ] 


Patty and Azalea 

it all right to take her over there once or twice 
to get the pictures of her. But one of the films 
went wrong, somehow, and Mr. Merritt was 
determined to take it over again. I wouldn’t 
allow it, because I found out how Patty felt 
about Baby being in it, — so I refused. Now, 
I don’t suppose you know how insistent the 
picture people are about any scene they want. 
They go to any lengths to get them. I’ve 
heard Mr. Bixby say, ‘ Get the picture if it kills 
the leading man ! ’ And though he doesn’t 
mean that literally I think he would do anything 
short of murder to get his picture. Well, they 
thought that the whole reel w r as spoiled be- 
cause one scene with Fleurette in it wasn’t right. 
And they were bound to have her over there 
again.” 

“ She shan’t go, — so she shouldn’t ! ” Patty 
crooned, as she held her child closer in her 
sheltering arms. 

“No; and that’s what I told Mr. Merritt,” 
went on Azalea. “ But he is tricky, and I felt 
pretty sure he’d try underhand means to get the 
baby. I’ve kept watch night and day, and I’ve 
always been certain that Fleurette was either 
in Winnie’s care or Patty’s. Patty wouldn’t 
trust her with me any more.” 

[252] 


Azalea’s Story 

Azalea spoke the last words wistfully, with a 
penitent look in her brown eyes. 

“ Small wonder! ” cried Elise, who was listen- 
ing interestedly. “ After you took that blessed 
child to ” 

“ There, there, Elise,” Farnsworth inter- 
rupted, “ we do trust Azalea. Let her finish 
her story.” 

Azalea gave him a grateful look and went on. 

“ When I went away from the house to-day, 
Patty was at home, so, though I knew it was 
Winnie’s day off, I felt all right about Baby. 
Then, — while we were out walking, I saw Win- 
nie go by, — and soon after I felt a — a sort of 
presentiment that I must go home. I couldn’t 
tell why, — only I felt I must come back to the 
house at once. So I did, — and everything 
seemed to be all right. I decided I had been 
foolishly nervous about it, — and I took Fleur- 
ette down on the porch for a little while. 

“Then that man came and demanded her! 
I was alone, except for Janet, — who is no good 
in an emergency, — and Mr. Merritt was very 
determined. If I hadn’t thought of the phono- 
graph I don’t know what I should have done, 
for that man is quite capable of taking Baby 
away from my arms by main force. But I hap- 

[253] 


Patty and Azalea 

jDened to think I could fool him, — as I couldn’t 
combat him, — so I put on the crying record 
to make him think we were still in the library, 
— and I scooted over to Gales’ with the 
baby as fast as I could run. Then I came 
back ” 

“ Weren’t you afraid of him? ” asked Patty, 
shuddering at the thought of Azalea at the 
mercy of the infuriated man. 

“ No; I know him, and he isn’t a brute or a 
ruffian. He was just bent on getting Fleurette 
for that picture, — it would take only a few 
minutes, — and I was just as bent that he 
shouldn’t. 

“ So, when he found I had outwitted him, he 
accepted the situation, — why, he even wanted 
to take my picture in my angry mood! He is 
a man who thinks of nothing but a good pose 
for his pictures.” 

“ He seemed a decent chap,” Farnsworth said, 
“ but I was so angry, I just fired him, for I 
feared otherwise I’d lose control of my own 
temper and give him his just deserts ! ” 

“ He’ll never come again,” observed Van Rey- 
pen, “ I saw you, Bill, when you invited him to 
leave ! I’m no craven, but I shouldn’t care to 

[254] 


Azalea’s Story 

return to any one who had looked at me like 
that! ” 

“ I was a bit positive,” laughed Farnsworth. 
“ But, Azalea, I must admit I’m rather bowled 
over by this idea of you in the moving pic- 
tures! It — it isn’t done much in our crowd, 
you know.” 

“ I know it, — and I’m never going to do it 
again! I’ve had enough! I wanted to make 
it my career, — but,” she hesitated, “ that was 
before I knew you — you nice people. I — I 
never knew really nice people before, — my 
Western friends are — are different. But I 
want to be like you,” her troubled glance 
took in Patty and Bill and then drifted to the 
ethers; and her face was wistful and only 
lighted up as she looked at Van Reypen. He 
smiled encouragingly at her, and she continued. 

“ I’m quite ready to give up all connection 
with the Bixby people and I’ll promise never to 
go near them again, — even if they try to get me 
to.” 

“ You bet you won’t ! ” exclaimed Farnsworth. 
“ I’m glad you’ve given it up of your own ac- 
cord, Zaly, for if you hadn’t I’d have to forbid 
it, anyway! I can’t allow you to do such 
things.” 


[255] 


Patty and Azalea 

“ And I don’t want to. It wasn’t as nice as 
I thought it would be, and yet, — it was fun! ” 
She smiled as thoughts of her daredevil stunts 
passed through her mind. 

“Tell us all about it!” cried Ray Gale. 
“ I’m awfully interested, and I ’m sorry you’re 
going to quit! By George, Farnsworth! if 
you’d seen our Azalea in that picture of the 
cyclone ! ” 

“Never mind!” Azalea interrupted him, 
“ I’m all over that foolish idea.” 

“I should hope so!” exclaimed Elise, with 
a withering glance. “ The idea of anybody 
being in such company as you must have 
been ” 

“Not at all,” Azalea declared; “I wasn’t 
mixed up with anybody unpleasant at all. In 
fact, I talked to no one but the Bixbys and Mr. 
Merritt. Mrs. Bixby was most kind and looked 
after me as a mother might have done, — though 
I never knew a mother’s care.” 

The pretty face grew sad, and the whole at- 
titude of Azalea was so penitent and full of 
resolve to be more like the people she admired 
that all of Patty’s lingering resentment fled 
away. She put the baby in her father’s arms, 
and she flew over to Azalea and gave her an 
[256] 


Azalea’s Story 

embrace of full and free forgiveness and af- 
fection. 

“ It’s all right, Zaly,” she said, smiling at her, 
“ you did cut up jinks with my baby, — but when 
you came home to look after her, — even when 
you thought I was here, — and when you put up 
such a great game to rescue her from the 
enemy’s clutches, — and succeeded, — well, — 
I’m for you! ” 

Patty spoke so whole-heartedly there was no 
doubt of her sincerity, and Azalea looked 
grateful and pleased, — yet, she looked troubled 
too. 

“ Oh, Patty, you’re too good to me,” she said, 
“ you don’t know — I don’t deserve your faith 
and loyalty.” 

“ Oh, I ’spect you do,” and Patty caressed 
the shining brown hair. 

“ No, — I’m all unworthy ” 

“ I suppose you mean about that sampler 
business,” put in Elise, with an unkind look on 
her face. “ I think you ought to confess that, 
— while you’re confessing.” 

Farnsworth gave a reproving glance at Elise, 
but he said, “ Out with it, Zaly, — let’s clean 
off the slate while we’re about it. What’s the 
sampler business that sticks in Elise’s throat? ” 

[257] 


Patty and Azalea 

He sounded so sympathetic and helpful that 
Azalea spoke up bravely. 

“ I did do wrong, Bill, but I didn’t realise 
how wrong when I was doing it. I had an old 
sampler and it was dated 1836 and I picked 
out some stitches so it looked like 1636.” 

“You didn’t deceive anybody!” exclaimed 
Elise. 

“ I’m glad of it,” returned Azalea, simply. 
“ I was too ignorant to know that there were 
no samplers made at that earlier date, — and 
to tell the truth, I didn’t think much about it, 
— I just did it hastily, — on a sudden impulse, 
— because I wanted to give Elise something 
worth-while for her booth at the fair.” 

“ And gave me something utterly worthless! ” 
scoffed Elise. 

“Oh, come now, Elise*” said Farnsworth, 
“ it didn’t hurt your sales any, even if it didn’t 
help them. Call it a joke and let it go at that.” 

“ But it was deceitful, Cousin William,” said 
Azalea, “ and I do confess it, and I’m sorry 
as I can be about it.” 

Her pretty face was troubled and she looked 
so disturbed that Phil took up the cudgels for 
her. 

“ Oh, come off, all of you,” he said, laugh- 
[258] 


Azalea’s Story 

ingly, u this isn’t a court of inquiry, and we’re 
not sitting in judgment on Azalea. She has 
properly admitted all her escapades, and she’s 
been forgiven by the ones most interested, now 
let’s call it a day, — and talk about something 
else.” 

“ All right, — let’s talk about the 4 Star of the 
West,’ ” cried the irrepressible Ray Gale. 
“ Now the secret’s out, there’s no harm in 
mentioning it. You must see that picture, 
Farnsworth, and then you’ll be begging Azalea 
to go back to screen work ! ” 

“ Never,” said Azalea, her face shining with 
happiness that she was forgiven and reinstated 
in general favour, “ I’ve had my lesson. No 
more films for me! From now on, I’m going 
to be goody-girl, — and behave like nice ladies, 
— like Patty and Betty — and Elise.” 

The slight hesitation before the last name 
made Elise bite her lip in chagrin, for she had 
seen that her attack on Azalea was not ap- 
proved of by most of the audience. 

Poor Elise was of an unfortunate disposition, 
and envy and jealousy were her besetting sins. 
She had never liked Azalea for the reason that 
the Western girl, with her frank, untutored 
ways, often usurped Elise’s place in the lime- 

[259] 


Patty and Azalea 

light, and Miss Farrington greatly objected to 
that. 

It was with malicious purpose that Elise had 
brought up the subject of the sampler, and 
when she found it passed over as of little mo- 
ment, she was angry at herself for having 
raised the question at all. 

“ Don’t try to be like me,” she said, with an 
acid smile at Azalea; “if you do, nobody will 
like you.” 

“Oh, come, now, Elise,” said Farnsworth, 
laughing at this tempest in a teapot, “ play fair. 
We all like you, and we all like Azalea, whether 
she models herself on you or not; so let’s all 
love one another, — and let it go at that ! ” 

“ Yes,” said Patty, “ and now, my fellow lov- 
ers and loveresses, I must take my small daugh- 
ter in and send her to sleepy-by, and the rest of 
you have just about half an hour before it’s time 
to dress for dinner. The two Gales may con- 
sider themselves invited, — if they will honour 
us.” 

“ Delighted,” replied Betty, “ though not 
overwhelmingly surprised at the invitation. 
Howsumever, we must fly back home for some 
purple and fine linen, and then we’ll return 
anon. I’m usually returning here, anon! I 
[260] 


Azalea’s Story 

wonder what I ever did, Patty, before you 
came here to live as our hospitable neigh- 
bours ! ” 

“ There’s half an hour, Azalea,” said Van 
Reypen, “ come for a toddle down to the brook, 
and let’s talk things over.” 

The two started off, and for a few moments 
walked along in silence. 

Azalea was in a quiet, chastened mood, — a 
side of her character that Phil had never before 
seen, and he noted with pleasure the gentle 
sweetness of her face and the soft tones of her 
voice. 

“ It woke me up,” she said, reminiscently, 
“ when that man tried to take Fleurette from 
my arms. I would have fought him like a 
tiger if I hadn’t suddenly realised that the way 
to fix him was by strategy. I just happened to 
think that by means of the record I could fool 
him into believing we were in the library, when 
really we were flying to refuge. I knew he 
wouldn’t come in as long as he felt sure we were 
there, for he was watching out for the Farns- 
worths’ return. So, I tried the scheme, and it 
worked! ” 

“ Then you went bravely back to face the 
music! ” 


1 261 ] 


Patty and Azalea 

“ Oh, I wasn’t afraid of him, — for myself. 
He’s not at all a ruffian sort, — and he never 
would have hurt the baby. Only, — he was 
bound to get her! ” 

“ Well, he didn’t succeed, — thanks to you, and 
I don’t think he’ll ever try it again.” 

“ Oh, I’m sure he won’t! He’s afraid of Bill, 
all right ! Any one would be who had seen the 
gleam in Cousin William’s eyes when he fired 
Mr. Merritt! ” 

Azalea laughed a little at the recollection, — 
then she sighed. 

“Why the sigh?” asked Van Reypen, look- 
ing at the expressive face of the girl, as her 
smile faded and her sensitive mouth drooped at 
the corners. 

“ Oh, — nothing, — and everything ! Don’t 
ask questions! ” She shook her shoulders as if 
flinging off a troublesome thought. “ I want to 
forget the whole subject, — let’s talk of other 
things.” 

“ All right, — let’s. Let’s talk of my unworthy 
self, for instance.” 

“ Why do you say your ‘ unworthy self ’ ? 
Because you so look on yourself? or for the 
sake of being contradicted? or just for non- 
sense ? ” 


[262] 


Azalea’s Story 

The brown eyes smiled into his, and Azalea 
looked very roguish and saucy as she demanded 
an answer. 

“ Habit, I daresay. It’s considered the thing 
for one to look upon himself as unworthy. Of 
course, I’m not all to the bad! ” 

“ No, I suppose not. I’ve noticed saving 
graces now and then.” 

“You have! What, for instance? You see, 
I love to talk about myself! ” 

“Well, for one thing, you’ve been very kind 
to me. I was in a sorry position to-day, and 
you and Cousin William backed me up so beau- 
tifully, that I pulled through. If you hadn’t 
I’d have collapsed and given up the game, in 
sheer fright.” 

“ What do you mean? ” 

“Yes; Patty was pretty hostile at first, — 
though she came round all right, later. Elise 
was, — oh, well, you know Elise’s attitude to- 
ward me.” 

“ Don’t mind her, — she’s always got a chip 
on her shoulder ! ” 

“Betty was reserving decision, too; and but 
for the strong support of you and Cousin Will- 
iam, — yes, and Ray Gale, — I shouldn’t have 
come off so well. But I deserved any fate. I 
1 263 ] 


Patty and Azalea 

have been bad, — and though I am sorry, — that 
doesn’t wipe it all out.” 

“ It does, as far as I’m concerned. And I’m 
all that matters — at least, — I wish I might be 
all that matters.” 

“My gracious! There are lots who matter 
more than you! Patty and Bill, and Fleur- 
ette and ” 

“ Stop there! That’s all! I’ll concede those, 
— but no others. Don’t you dare say that Gale 
matters more than I do ! ” 

“ Ray Gale? Oh, I don’t know. And what 
do you mean by 1 matters ’ ? ” 

“ Counts. Makes a difference. Affects you. 
Means something to you.” 

“ Oh, hold on ! I’m floundering beyond my 
depth ! Help ! help ! ” 

Azalea put her hands over her ears and shook 
her head, laughing at Van Reypen’s earnest 
face as he racked his brain for further explana- 
tory phrases. 

“ I won’t stop ! I’m in earnest. I want to 
matter — to mean something to you! I want 
to count with you ” 

“ Kipling says, ‘ let all men count with you, 
and none too much.’ ” 

“ Well, I’d rather count too much than not at 
[264] 


Azalea’s Story 

all. Oh, Azalea, — you do understand me, 
don’t you ? Let me count, dear, — let me count 
for everything in your life ” 

Azalea Thorpe couldn’t believe her ears. 
What Van Reypen was saying seemed as if it 
could have but one meaning, — yet that was im- 
possible ! Philip Van Reypen, the high-born, 
'aristocratic Philip, couldn’t be seriously 
interested in a crude, ignorant Western 
girl! 

“ Thank you, Phil,” she said, resolving to 
accept his words as a sign of friendship, 
“ you’re awfully good to me, and your friend- 
ship counts. I begin to think friendship is 
the one thing in life that does count. And it 
is the friends I have made — lately, — here, — 
that have made me see, — made me realise my 
own unworthiness, — and when I say that, I 
mean it.” 

“ I won’t let you mean it ! ” he cried, “ I won’t 
let you call yourself unworthy. For you count 
with me, — Azalea, more than the whole world ! 
More than anything or everything in the world. 
Can’t I count that way with you, — can’t I, 
Azalea?” 

The dark handsome face was very earnest, 
and as it drew nearer to her own, and she 
[265] 


Patty and Azalea 

looked deep in the eloquent eyes, she could no 
longer fail to understand. 

“What, — what, — ” she murmured, drawing 
back in confusion, “ what do you mean? ” 
“Don’t you know what I mean, Brownie? 
Listen, and I will tell you, then. I love you, 
dear, — I love you.” He held her hands in his 
own and gazed into her face. “ I can’t tell 
you when it came or how, — but suddenly — I 
knew it! I knew I loved you, and should al- 
ways love you. Tell me, — tell me, Azalea, 
that you can learn to love me.” 

“ Oh, don’t— I can’t ” 

“ Not just at once, dear, — I can’t hope for 
that. But, can’t you learn, — can’t you try to 
learn — if I help you? Brownie, — that’s all my 
own name for you, — isn’t it, you nutbrown 
maid! Brownie, darling, — you must love me. 
I can’t bear it if you don’t! ” 

Azalea looked mystified, — then amazed, — 
and then her face lighted up with a sudden 
radiant happiness, — she seemed glorified, ex- 
alted. 

Van Reypen caught her in his arms. 

“You do love me, — you witch! you beauty! 
Azalea, you look transfigured! You do love 
me, — -tell me so ! ” 


[266] 


Azalea’s Story 

Then her face changed. She repulsed him, — - 
she sought to leave his encircling clasp. 

“ Don’t! ” she cried, “ don’t! It is horrible ! ” 
She burst into uncontrollable tears, and her 
whole frame shook with her turbulent sorrow. 

u Have I been too abrupt?” asked Van Rey- 
pen, filled with dismay. “ Give me a little 
hope, dear, just say you’ll let me tell you this 
some other time, and I’ll not trouble you now.” 

“ Oh, it isn’t that,” Azalea sobbed, “ it’s — oh, 
no! I can’t tell you, — it’s too dreadful! Let 
me go ! ” and she ran from him and hurried 
back to the house and up to her own room. 


[267] 


CHAPTER XVII 


philip’s request 

“ IVE me a few minutes of your valuable 

l T time all to myself, will you, old chap ? ” 
Phil said to Farnsworth, as the two 
men met in the hall just before the dinner 
hour. 

“ Take all you want, I’ve lots of it,” returned 
the other, cheerily. “Want to borrow a 
fiver? ” 

“No; I’m still able to make both ends meet. 
But, seriously, Bill,” as the two men entered 
Farnsworth’s den, and closed the door, “ I’m 
hard hit.” 

“ That sounds as if you were in love, — but I 
can’t think you mean that, — so I wisely opine 
you’ve been hit by the fall in Golconda Mining 
Stock.” 

“Your wise opinings are ’way off, — but your 
first suspicion was nearer the mark.” 

“In love? Good for you, old Phil! Of 
course it’s Elise ! ” 


[268] 


Philip’s Request 

“Of course it isn’t! Had Elise been my 
fate, I’d have known it long ago.” 

“Who then? Betty Gale?” 

“Wrong again. And blind, too. It’s Aza- 
lea.” 

Farnsworth sank limply into a chair. He pre- 
tended to be dazed almost to insensibility, and 
as a matter of fact his surprise was nearly as 
great as his demonstration of it. 

“Azalea!” he gasped. “Our Azalea!” 

“ Exactly; don’t act as if I had suggested the 
Queen of Sheba ! I know what a superior girl 
she is, — and I know I’ve not much to recom- 
mend me ” 

“ Oh, Phil, — oh, Van Reypen, stop ! Have 
you lost your senses? ” 

“ I think you have ! ” Phil looked decidedly 
annoyed. “ I must say, Farnsworth, I don’t 
quite get you.” 

“ I beg your pardon, dear old chap, I 

I was a bit astounded. You see ” 

“ I see that I’ve a right to care for the girl if 
I choose, and as you are her nearest relative, 
that I know of, I come to you for sanction of 
my suit. Aside from your rather inexplicable 
astonishment — have you any real objection to 
me as a new cousin-in-law?” 

[269] 


Patty and Azalea 

“No! You know I haven’t!” Farnsworth 
held out a cordial hand which the other grasped. 
“ In fact, I think it’s fine, — a most admirable 
arrangement. What will Patty say?” 

“ I hope she’ll be pleased. It’s no secret that 
I adored Patty and tried my best to cut you out, 
— but, not having succeeded in that, I’ve been 
glad to be the friend of both of you, and we’ve 
had lots of good times, all together. But, — 
well, I never expected to know another real 
whole-hearted love, — and then along comes 
this splendid girl, — this daughter of your own 
big, beautiful, breezy West, and before I know 
it, she has taken my heart by storm ! ” 

“ But, Phil, — you — you don’t know Aza- 
lea ” 

“ I know enough. If you mean her escapades 
with the picture people or her innocent joke 
about the patchwork sampler, — I don’t care 
about those little things. She has a wonderful 
big, noble nature, that will respond quickly to 
loving care and gentle advice. And, — I think 
she cares for me, but ” 

“ Of course she cares for you ! What girl 
wouldn’t! Don’t underestimate yourself or 
your attractions, Phil. But I’ll speak plainly; 
you’re a big man in lots of ways, — beside phy- 
[ 270 ] 


Philip’s Request 

sically. You’re an aristocrat, — of an old 
family, — and you’re very rich. Now, — Aza- 
lea ” 

“ Please don’t talk of my birth or wealth as 
assets. I offer Azalea a heart full of love, and 
a constant care for her happiness and well- 
being. If she does care for me, I want your 
permission to try to win her. I have broached 
the subject ” 

“What did she say?” 

“ She — oh, I don’t know, — she said — well, 
she ran away ! ” 

“ Surprised and a little shy, probably,” Farns- 
worth looked thoughtful. “ I may as well tell 
you, Phil, oh hang it! How shall I put it? 
Well, there’s something queer about Azalea.” 

“What do you mean, — queer?” 

“ I don’t know. And it may be nothing. 
But, — her only near relative, so far as I know, 
is her father. A man I knew years ago, — a 
cousin of mine, — and a decent, hard-working, 
plain man. Now, Zaly has not had a single 
letter from him since she has been here.” 

“Why? Where is he?” 

“ I don’t know. She won’t tell. I’ve written 
to him twice, — but I’ve had no reply. I’m tell- 
ing you all I know.” 

[ 271 ] 


Patty and Azalea 

“ Thank you for being so straightforward. 
Do you — do you think there’s anything dis- 
honourable ” 

“That he’s in jail? That’s the idea that 
haunts my brain. I can’t think of any other ex- 
planation for his continued silence, — and for 
Azalea’s mysterious disinclination to talk about 
him. Why, Phil, she forged a letter, — wrote 
one to herself, — and pretended to me that it 
was from her father ! ” 

“Poor child! How unhappy she must be 
over it. If she cares for me, Bill, I’ll take all 
that load off her poor little shoulders. I’ll get 
her to tell me the truth, and then we’ll see what 
can be done. But, in any case, or whatever her 
father may be, it won’t affect my love for the 
girl herself. My idea of birth and breeding 
is that it gives one an opportunely to be toler- 
ant and generous toward others of fewer advan- 
tages. To me, Azalea stands alone, — her 
family connections, whatever they may be, I ac- 
cept gladly, for her dear sake.” 

“ I say, Phil, forgive me if I express unwel- 
come surprise, but — why, you haven’t seemed 
to be so deeply interested in Azalea ” 

“ I know; it is pretty sudden. But, she some- 
how bowled me over all at once. Her brave 
[272] 


Philip’s Request 

attitude to-day, when she told her little story, 
her sweet acceptance of Elise’s remarks, made 
in petty spite, and her whole big spirit of 
fearless determination to go into the picture 
work, — only to have it spoiled entirely by the 
wicked acts of that villain Merritt, — I tell you, 
Farnsworth, she’s a girl of a thousand! I read 
her, I understand her better than you do, and 
I see far beneath her untaught, outward man- 
ner the real girl, — the sterling traits of a fine 
character.” 

“All right, Phil, go in and win! You have 
my blessing, — and when Patty revives from her 
first shock of surprise, she’ll bless you, too. It 
was Patty’s work, getting Azalea here, — and 
Patty has tried every way in the world to help 
and improve her ” 

“ Patty has done wonders. And has paved 
the way, I admit. But it is nothing to what I 
shall do with and for Azalea, when I have her 
all to myself.” 

“ She’s not so very tractable — Zaly has a will 
of her own.” 

“ She’d not be herself, if she hadn’t. That’s 
part of her big nobility of soul. But I’ll take 
care of her manners and customs. If only 
she’ll accept me, I’ve no fears for the future.” 
[ 273 ] 


Patty and Azalea 

“ But you must find out about her father. It’s 
queer that she acts so mysterious about him. 
And, so far as I know, she’s had no letters from 
anybody back home, — her home is at Horner’s 
Corners. Awful place 1 ” 

“ If we don’t like the place, we’ll buy it and 
make it over,” said Van Reypen, serenely. 
u All right, Farnsworth, you’ve made me satis- 
fied that I may try to win my prize, — and the 
rest will follow.” 

The two men went out to join the others on 
the porch. Both were in thoughtful mood. 
Van Reypen full of his new happiness, and 
eager to see Azalea again, Farnsworth still 
amazed, and a little uncomfortable over the 
whole matter. He felt a responsibility for 
Azalea, and yet, if Phil was willing to take her 
without further knowledge of her family, — why 
should he, Bill, object? 

Azalea had not yet come downstairs, and 
Patty chaffed the two men on their sober 
faces. 

“What’s the matter?” she cried, gaily. 
u You two been quarrelling? ” 

“ Come for a stroll on the terrace, and I’ll 
tell you, Patty,” said Phil, for he really wanted 
to tell Patty himself. 

[274] 


Philip’s Request 

“You see,” he said, “as they passed out of 
earshot of the others, “ I’m bowled over.” 

“ I know ! Betty Gale. And I’m so glad, 
Phil. I know you used to like me, — and I was 
and am fond of you, — but you needn’t think I 
resent your loving another. I’m honestly glad, 
and I wish you all the happiness in the world ! ” 
“ Thank you, Patty, but, — wait a minute.” 
“Oh, I can’t! I’m so excited over it! I’m 
going to announce it at dinner, — I wonder if 
I can’t get the table re-decorated — with white 

flowers ! I love an announcement party ” 

“ Patty, — don’t, — let me tell you ” 

“ Oh, I know you! d hate the fuss and feathers, 

but Betty’ll love it and ” 

“But it isn't Betty!” Van Reypen managed 
to get in. 

“Not Betty!” Patty stopped short and 
turned to face him. “Oh, — Phil, — Elise?” 

“ You’ve one more guess coming,” he smiled. 
“Oh, who? Somebody in New York? 
Where is she? I’ll invite her here! ” 

“ You needn’t, — she’s here already. Why, 
Patty, it’s Azalea.” 

“ Azalea ! ” Patty’s surprise was greater than 
Bill’s had been, and she stood looking at Van 
Reypen with an absolutely incredulous gaze. 

[275] 


Patty and Azalea 

“ Azalea ! ” she said, again. 

u Yes, — and I want you to help me. When I 
spoke to her, this afternoon, she — she acted 
— well, strange ” 

“ Oh, Phil, it was only because she was so sur- 
prised, — as I am, — as everybody will be! 
Imagine Elise ! ” 

Patty’s face of horror, that changed to a mis- 
chievous smile, annoyed Van Reypen. 

“ I don’t see, Patty, why you take it like that. 
Bill did, too. Now, it seems to me, if I see 
noble traits and qualities in Azalea, you and 
Bill ought to have perception enough to see 
them too.” 

“ It isn’t that, — she has noble traits, — some, 
— but — oh, Phil, — you and Azalea ! King 
Cophetua and the Beggar Maid! ” 

“ Patty, stop ! I won’t let you talk like that ! 
I admit I’m blind to her faults, — if she has 
any, — for I’m desperately in love, — but I do 
look to you and Bill for sympathy and approval. 
And I don’t want any of that King Cophetua 
talk, either ! Just because I happen to be born 
under a family tree, and happen to have as 
much money as I want, — that’s no reason for 
implying that those are my chief attractions. I 
can give Azalea more worth-while things than 
[276] 


Philip’s Request 

that! I can give her the love and adoration 
that is every woman’s desire and right, — I can 

give her loving care and help, — I can ” 

“ Oh, Phil, how splendid you are ! You make 

me ’most wish ” But Patty’s honest blue 

eyes wouldn’t let her say the words. “No, I 
don’t wish anything of the sort! You are a 
splendid man, and I do appreciate you, but I 
have my Bill, and he’s all the world to me. 
Now, Pm more than glad you’ve found a your 
fate at last, — but — Azalea ! ” 

“ Stop it, Patty ! I find I’ve got to forbid 
these repeated expressions of amazement. You 
must get used to the idea, and you may as well 
begin at once ! ” 

“You’re right, and I will! First of all, 
honest and hearty congratulations and may you 
both be very, very happy, — as happy as w r e are, 
— I can’t ask more ! ” 

“ Thank you, Patty, and will you say a good 
word for me to Azalea? ” 

“ Why! haven’t you asked her yet? ” 

“ Only partly, — that is, she has only partly 
answered me.” 

“What did she say?” 

“ I don’t quite know. She was, — well, Patty, 
she ran away from me.” 

[ 277] 


Patty and Azalea 

“ Oh, that’s all right, then, that’s a time- 
honoured device to postpone the psychological 
moment! Well, may I make the announce- 
ment at dinner? ” 

“No; I think not. For, though I couldn’t 
help hoping, from the look in her eyes, that she 
cares for me, — yet she said ” 

“ What did she say? ” 

“ Nothing coherent or understandable, — 
but — well, she didn’t — she didn’t say 
4 yes 

“ Oh, that’s nothing, — she will. But I won’t 
make the announcement till she tells me to. 
There’s the dinner gong, — come on.” 

It wasn’t until the others were seated at the 
table that Azalea come into the dining-room. 
She looked quite unlike her usual self, and was 
very quiet. Her face showed a pathetic, wist- 
ful expression, but her eyes were cast down, 
and now and then the corners of her scarlet 
mouth trembled. 

Patty had arranged that she should sit next 
Van Reypen, and as Azalea took the place, she 
found Ray Gale on her other hand. 

“ ’Smatter, Zaly? ” he said, merrily, not think- 
ing anything was really troubling her. 

“ Shell shock,” said Van Reypen, to save Aza- 
[278] 


Philip’s Request 

lea the necessity of replying. “ She’s had a 
hard day of it, and now she’s not to be bothered 
to talk, if she doesn’t want to.” 

Azalea gave him a grateful look, and under 
the influence of his gentle kindliness, and mild 
raillery, she partly recovered her poise, and be- 
came almost like her own gay self again. 

Much later in the evening, Van Reypen drew 
her away from the rest and led her to a secluded 
corner of the great piazza, where he had her 
alone. 

“ Now, my princess, — my beloved, — you are 
to tell me the answer to my plea. Tell me, 
Azalea, — may I take you to myself? Will you 
be my very own? ” 

“ I can’t say yes, Phil,” she replied, softly, the 
tears gathering in her brown eyes. “ I — 
oh, I thought I could tell you the truth, — 
but I can’t, — I can’t! I — I love you too 
much ! ” 

“You’ve answered me!” cried Van Reypen, 
his eyes shining with gladness, “ if you love me, 
— nothing else matters ! And you can’t love me 
* too much ’ ! I want all there is of your 
love, — your dear love! Is it really mine? ” 

“ It’s really yours, as far as it’s in my power 
to give it, — but,” and Azalea’s face grew very 
[279] 


Patty and Azalea 

sad, “ I can’t give it to you, — out of considera- 
tion of your rights. I can’t love you, Philip, 
I mustn’t let myself even think of it! ” 

“ Don’t talk nonsense, you blessed child, — 
you’ve settled it all when you say you love me ! 
Oh, Azalea, I’m so glad, and proud and 
happy! ” 

Azalea gave a start as his arms closed round 
her. “No!” she cried, “no, dear, don’t! oh, 
please don’t! ” 

“Why, darling? Why mayn’t I caress my 
own love, — my promised wife? ” 

“Oh, no, — I’m not! I can never be your 
wife ! I’m — I’m not worthy ! ” 

“Hush!” and Van Reypen closed her lips 
with a tender kiss. “ Hush, Azalea, never use 
the words worthy or unworthy between us. 
Our love makes us worthy of each other, what- 
ever we may be otherwise.” 

“ Stop, — please stop ! Every word you say 
makes it harder! I can’t stand it! It’s too 
dreadful. Let me go, — oh, please, let me go ! ” 
Shuddering as with some great fear, Azalea 
slipped from his arms and ran away. He heard 
her steps as she went upstairs, and heard a door 
close, — evidently she had flown to her own 
room. 


[ 280 ] 


Philip’s Request 

Greatly perplexed, Phil went in search of 
Patty. 

“ Help me out,” he said, in a low tone. 
“ Azalea has gone to her room, and there is 
certainly something troubling her. Go to her, 
Patty, — find out what it all means, — and if it 
is any foolishness about 4 unworthiness ’ or that 
rubbish, try to make her see that I want her 
just as she is. I don’t care a hang about her 
ancestors or her father or anything in the whole 
world, but just Azalea Thorpe ! ” 

Patty looked at his earnest face, and hon- 
estly rejoiced that he had found a girl he could 
care for like that. 

“ I’ll go, Phil,” she said, “ and I’ll bring that 
young woman to reason ! It isn’t only coyness, 
— that isn’t Azalea’s way, — but she is honestly 
troubled about something.” 

But though Patty knocked on Azalea’s locked 
door several times, she heard no response. 

“ Please let me in, Zaly,” she begged, “ I just 
want to talk to you a little.” 

Still no reply, and then, after exhausting all 
other arguments, Patty said, “Won’t you let 
me in for Phil’s sake? He sent me.” 

That succeeded, and reluctantly Azalea un- 
locked the door. 


[281] 


Patty and Azalea 

“ Don’t talk to me, Patty,” she pleaded. 
“ Pm in the depths of despair, but you can’t 
help me. Nobody can help me, — and I can’t 
even help myself.” 

“Who made all this trouble for you?” in- 
quired Patty, casually, her never failing tact 
instructing her that Azalea would answer that 
better than protestations of affection. 

“ I made it myself, — but that doesn’t make it 
any easier to bear.” 

“ Indeed it doesn’t,” Patty agreed. “ But, 
never mind, Zaly, if you heaped up a mound 
of trouble, let me help you to pull it down 
again.” 

“No; you can’t,” and Azalea looked at her 
dully. 

“ Oh, come now, let me try. Is it about your 
father? ” 

Azalea fairly jumped. “ What do you 
mean? ” 

“ Just what I said,” returned Patty, calmly. 
“ You know, dear, you’ve made us think there’s 
something queer about your father. Is he — • 
has he done anything wrong? ” 

“No, Patty, goodness, gracious no! Mr. 
Thorpe is a most honoured and honourable 
man ! ” 


[ 282 ] 


Philip’s Request 

“ Now why does she call him Mr. Thorpe ?” 
Patty wondered, but she only said; 

“ Oh, all right, forgive my suggestion. Why 
doesn’t he write to you? ” 

“He — he? — oh, Patty, that’s the trouble.” 

“Good! Now we’re getting at it. How is 
that the trouble? ” 

“ Shall I tell you everything? ” and poor Aza- 
lea looked doubtful as to what to do. 

“ Yes, dear,” Patty said, gently, fearing even 
yet that an ill-advised word would interrupt or 
prevent this long-deferred explanation. 

“ Well, you see, — oh, Patty, — I’m a wicked, 
deceitful girl ” 

“ Out with it,” urged Patty, not greatly scared 
by this tragic beginning, — for Azalea was 
prone to exaggerate. 

“ I was home, you know, at Horner’s Corn- 
ers ” 

A knock on the door was a most unwelcome in- 
terruption. 

“ Don’t answer,” Patty whispered, “ it’s 
Elise, — I heard her step.” 

But Elise was not so easily rebuffed. “ Let 
me in,” she called, “ I know you’re in there, 
Azalea, — you and Patty.” 

[283] 


Patty and Azalea 

Patty went to the door, and opened it 
slightly. “ Go away now, Elise, please,” she 
said, “ Azalea and I are having a little con- 
fidential chat.” 

“ Not so confidential that I can’t be in it too, 
is it? ” and speaking lightly, Elise brushed past 
Patty and into the room. 

“ Why, Azalea,” she exclaimed, “ what is the 
matter? You look like a tragedy queen ! ” 

For Azalea, annoyed at the intrusion, stood, 
hands clenched, and eyes scowling, and she said 
angrily, “ I don’t think people ought to come 
into other people’s rooms, uninvited! I don’t 
call that good manners ! ” 

“You’re not supposed to know what good 
manners are,” said Elise, giving her a conde- 
scending look. “ And even if you think you do, 
— don’t try to teach me! ” 

“ Oh, Elise,” said Patty, reproachfully, 
t% don’t talk like that ! It reflects on you even 
more than on Zaly.” 

“ Oh, yes, stand up for her, — every one has 
gone mad over our * heroine ’ ! I call it dis- 
graceful to be mixed up with that movie con- 
cern, and let me tell you, Azalea Thorpe, if 
you think Mr. Van Reypen is going to overlook 
or forget that, you’re greatly mistaken! You 
[284] 


Philip’s Request 

know, Patty, — our Western friend here, is al- 
ready aspiring toward Philip ” 

“ Hush, Elise,” Patty returned, “ better stop 
before you make a goose of yourself! Phil is 
aspiring to Azalea’s favour, is the truer way to 
put it! ” 

“ Oh, no, I can’t believe that,” laughed Elise, 
“ Phil has too much self-respect! ” 


[285] 


CHAPTER XVIII 


PHILIPS BROWNIE 


' breakfast next morning Azalea’s place 



was vacant. 


“ I didn’t disturb her,” said Patty, “ for 
I want her to sleep late, if she can. She is such 
an active young person, she gets tired, — though 
she rarely admits it.” 

And then Janet came in. “ Mrs. Farns- 
worth,” she said, “ Miss Thorpe is not in her 
room. Perhaps she has gone for one of her 
early morning walks. But on her dressing- 
table I found these two notes.” 

The maid handed Patty one of the letters and 
gave the other to Van Reypen. Both were ad- 
dressed in Azalea’s handwriting and the two 
who took them felt a sudden foreboding as to 
the contents. 

Nor were their fears ill-founded. With an 
exclamation of dismay, Patty handed hers over 
to Farnsworth, who read it quickly, and looked 
at his wife with a serious face. 


[286] 


Philip’s Brownie 

“ Poor little Azalea,” he said, “ what can it 
all mean? ” 

For the note read: 

Dear Patty : 

I’m a wicked girl, and I can’t impose on you 
any longer. I am going away. Don’t try to 
find me, — just forget me. I love you all, — 
but I have no right to be among good people. 

Azalea. 

“ What’s in yours, Phil? ” Farnsworth asked, 
and Van Reypen handed it to him without a 
word. 

My dear Mr. Van Reypen : 

I can’t go away without leaving a word for 
you. But it is only to say, please forget the 
girl who calls herself 

Azalea. 

Then the notes were shown to the other two 
guests, Elise and Channing, for the departure 
of Azalea could not be kept secret, and of 
course they must immediately put forth every 
possible effort to find her. 

“ I always thought she was queer,” said Elise, 
“ but these notes are the queerest thing yet! 
Do you suppose she has eloped?” 

[287] 


Patty and Azalea 

“ Hush, Elise,” said Farnsworth, sternly. “ I 
know you don’t like Azalea, but I must ask you 
not to talk against her while you are under my 
roof. Whatever she is, she is my kin, — and 
I shall start at once in search of her, and learn 
the secret, — the mystery of her life. She has 
acted ‘ queer,’ I freely admit it, but I, for one, 
believe she is all right and whatever is troubling 
her is not her fault or wrong-doing.” 

“ Good for you, old man ! ” cried Philip, “ Pm 
with you in your search. We’ll find her, of 
course. First, we must find out where she 
went.” 

This statement was so obvious and uttered so 
earnestly that Patty laughed. 

“True, Mr. Sherlock Holmes,” she said. 
“ And just how shall we set about it? ” 

But Phil didn’t laugh, — he answered her ques- 
tion seriously. 

“ First, Patty, you must question the servants, 
and see if any one saw her go. You know, she 
must have gone early this morning, — she 
couldn’t have gone off in the night.” 

The result of the inquiry was that the cook, 
who was around early, had seen Azalea start 
away from the house at about six o’clock. She 
had not thought it strange at all, for Azalea 
[288] 


Philip’s Brownie 

often went for a long walk before breakfast. 
Cook said that Azalea wore a travelling suit 
and carried a fair-sized bag. 

“So far, so good,” said Phil; “next, Patty, 
will you go and look round her room? See 
wdiat she took with her, — and see if she left any 
more notes.” 

“ No notes,” Patty said, on her return from 
this errand. “ But she took all her jewellery 
and money, a house dress and a few toilet 
things. Janet and I could easily tell what was 
missing.” 

“ Now,” said Farnsw r orth, “ first, why did she 
go, and second, where would she be likely to 
go?” 

“ Never mind the why and wherefore,” re- 
turned Phil, “ but, as you say, where would she 
probably go? Not over to the Gales’, of 
course, that’s too near home. I am ready to 
declare that she went to the moving-picture 
studios.” 

“ Of course she did! ” agreed Elise; “ I think 
she’s in love with that Merritt person ” 

“ Nonsense, Elise,” laughed Channing; “ she 
loves that man like a cat loves hot soap ! I 
know better than that. But I think she may 
have gone over there to see Mrs. Bixby. That 

[289] 


Patty and Azalea 

woman has been kind to Azalea, and I feel sure 
that’s where she’d go.” 

“Then that’s where I go,” stated Van Rey- 
pen, rising from the table. “ I daresay you’re 
right, Chick. May I take the little roadster, 
Bill, and whiz over there and bring her back? ” 

“ Go ahead, boy, and good luck to you.” 

But Farnsworth was not at all sanguine as to 
the bringing back of Azalea. He knew her, in 
some ways, far better than Van Reypen did, 
and he felt sure that when Azalea decided to go 
away, she would not be easily found. 

But Van Reypen started cheerily off and went 
to the studios. 

There he was met by blank disappointment. 
Mrs. Bixby was greatly interested in his story, 
and greatly concerned for Azalea’s welfare, but 
she declared the girl had not come there. 

Van Reypen was not quite sure she was tell- 
ing him the truth, but his deep anxiety so stirred 
the motherly heart of Mrs. Bixby that she 
assured him earnestly that her statements were 
absolutely true, and that she was as anxious to 
find the missing girl as her friends were. 

But she could offer no suggestion as to any 
way to look, and poor Philip went back, dis- 
heartened and disappointed. 

[ 290] 


Philip’s Brownie 

All the morning they searched the grounds and 
the neighbourhood; they ransacked Azalea’s be- 
longings in hope of some old letter or clue of 
some sort. But nothing gave so much as a hint 
of anything that could have happened to her, 
that made her go away. 

“ I believe it’s all your fault, Elise,” said Van 
Reypen, angrily, for his alarm and sorrow 
made him forget his usual courtesy. “You’ve 
never liked Azalea, and you said mean things 
to her! ” 

“ Now, Phil,” remonstrated Patty, “ don’t 
talk like that. Elise and Azalea were not con- 
genial, but Elise wouldn’t do anything to make 
Azalea run away, and Azalea wouldn’t run, if 
she did ! ” 

This involved speech brought a laugh, but 
Philip went on; “I think she would. Azalea 
is more sensitive than you thought her. None 
of you understand her, — well, except Patty, — 
and her poor little heart was broken by your 
criticisms and continual reproofs. Suppose she 
isn’t quite as well up in the airs and graces of 
society as you all are, — she has other traits that 
make up for that ” 

“ Oh, Philip, you’re hopelessly in love with 
her! ” and Elise laughed jeeringly. 

[ 291 ] 


Fatty and Azalea 

“ I am in love with her,” he returned, “ and I 
make no secret of it. But not hopelessly, Elise. 
I shall find her, — I don’t know how or where, 
but I never will give up the quest until I suc- 
ceed!” 

“ Good for you,” cried Patty, “ that’s the way 
to talk! I’ll help, — and though there’s not any 
apparent way to look just now, — we’ll find 
one.” 

It was about noon when Van Reypen was 
called to the telephone. 

A strange but pleasant voice spoke to him, 
and asked him if he knew Alice Adams. 

“ No, I don’t,” said Phil, wonderingly. 

“ She knows you, and — well, I may be doing 
the wrong thing, but I wish you could come 
here.” 

“ Where, please? and why should I come? I 
don’t know Miss Adams, — I’m sure.” 

“ She is a dark-haired girl, with big, brown 
eyes, and a Western way of speaking ” 

“What? Has she just come to you ? Does she 
wear a tan-coloured cloth suit, — and a hat with 
coque feathers?” 

“ Yes, she does! Now will you come? ” 

“Where? Who are you? — I mean, may I 
ask your name? ” 


[ 292 ] 


Philip’s Brownie 

“ I am Miss Grayson, — a motion-picture act-' 
ress ” 

“ Yes, yes, — where are you? Where shall I 
come? ” 

“ To my home in New York City.” She gave 
him the address. “ You see, Miss Adams came 
here because she knows Miss Frawley, — we 
live together — but Miss Frawley is out of town, 
— and I persuaded Miss Adams to stay with 
me until her return. I can’t make out the 
trouble, but I have learned the address of the 
Farnsworths and — oh, well, I may as well tell 
you, Miss Adams talked in her sleep. She ar- 
rived here utterly exhausted, and on the verge 
of nervous prostration. But, it may be, some 
sleep will set her nerves right, if the cause of 
the trouble can be removed. And, — I know I 
am intruding, — but I can’t help thinking that 
it’s a lovers’ quarrel, and you can set it 
right! ” 

“ You’ve guessed only part of it, Miss Gray- 
son. It isn’t a lovers’ quarrel, — exactly, — but 
I can set it right! Will you promise to keep 
Miss — Adams there, until I can get there?” 

“Yes, indeed. She’s asleep yet, — but it’s a 
broken slumber, and she murmurs constantly 
of you, — and of her other friends.” 

[293 ] 


Patty and Azalea 

“ Thank you a thousand times, I’ll be there 
in an hour. Good-bye.” 

“ Come along, Patty,” Van Reypen cried, as 
he hung up the receiver, “ come on, Bill! I’ve 
found her! She’s assumed the name of Alice 
Adams, — and she’s with a sweet-voiced lady 
named Grayson. Come on, — I’ll tell you the 
rest as we go.” 

They didn’t break the speed laws, as their car 
flew down to New York, but it was only because 
that w r ould have meant delay in reaching their 
goal. About mid-afternoon they arrived at 
Miss Grayson’s apartment and surprised Aza- 
lea by entering the room where she sat. 

“ You naughty girl ! ” cried Patty, — but as she 
noted Azalea’s pale face and worried, harassed 
eyes, she just clasped her in her arms, with a 
little crooning murmur of affection. 

“ It’s all right, whatever it is,” she reassured, 
for Azalea turned big, frightened eyes on 
Farnsworth. 

“ You bet it’s all right! ” Philip cried, as he 
stepped eagerly forward. 

With a tired little sigh, Azalea put her hand 
in his. “How did you find me?” she began, 
but Van Reypen said, “ Never mind that, now. 
You just come back home with us, — and first 
[ 294 ] 


Philip’s Brownie 

thank Miss Grayson prettily for her kindness 
to you.” 

Miss Grayson, a pretty, round-faced girl, was 
greatly interested in the dramatic situation, and 
though she disclaimed any occasion for thanks, 
yet she very much wanted to know what it was 
all about. 

“ I already like Miss Adams too well to let 
her go entirely out of my life,” she said, with 
spirit. “ I claim my right to know a little about 
it.” 

“ It is your right,” said Farnsworth, “ and 
first of all this runaway of ours is not Miss 
Adams, but Miss Thorpe.” 

“ No,” said Azalea, with an air of decision, 
“ I’m not Miss Thorpe, — and I am Alice 
Adams.” 

“ Flighty,” said Farnsworth, “ and no won- 
der. She’s been under a good deal of nervous 
strain lately.” 

“ No; I’m not flighty,” persisted Azalea, who 
was entirely composed now, and who spoke 
firmly, though she was evidently controlling 
herself with an effort. 

“ And I’m going to confess now,” she went 
on. “ Now and here. Miss Grayson is so kind 
and dear I don’t mind her knowing, and the rest 

[ 295 ] 


Patty and Azalea 

of you must know. I must tell you, — I can’t 
live if I don’t.” 

“ All right, Zaly, dear, tell us,” and Patty sat 
beside her, and put a caressing hand on her 
arm. 

“ I am Alice Adams,” Azalea said, “ and I am 
not Azalea Thorpe at all, — and I never was.” 

“Oh!” said Farnsworth, beginning to see 
light. 

“ I am a wicked girl,” the pathetic little voice 
went on. “ I lived in Horner’s Corners, — and 
I lived with the woman who keeps the post-office 
there. I’ve been an orphan since I was four, 
and this woman brought me up, — though it 
scarcely could be called that, for she only looked 
on me as her assistant in the office and in her 
house. 

“Well, one day a letter came for Azalea 
Thorpe. Now, the Thorpes moved away from 
Horner’s Corners two years ago, and we never 
knew their new address. The few letters that 
came for them were sent to the Dead Letter 
Office. This one would have been, but for the 
fact that it was unsealed. 

“ It had been sealed, but the envelope was all 
unstuck, and — I read the letter. I own up to 
it, — I know it was wrong, — but I didn’t know 
[296] 


Philip’s Brownie 

then how wrong. You see, I wasn’t taught 
much about honour and right. It is only since 
I have been with good people that I realise 
what an awful thing I did. When I read it, I 
couldn’t help thinking what a pity for that won- 
derful invitation to her to make a visit in the 
East, to be wasted ! And the more I thought, 
the more I was possessed of an idea that I 
might personate Azalea Thorpe and have the 
visit myself. Oh, if you knew how I hated the 
place where I lived, — how I hated the home I 
had, — how I wanted to get out into the great 
world, and have my chance ! And, yes, I 
wanted to be a moving-picture actress. I was 
sure I could do better than the pictures I saw 
in that little town, and — well, the more I 
thought about it, — the more it seemed an easy 
and plausible thing to do. 

“ I did it. I answered Patty’s letter as if I 
were really Azalea Thorpe, — you see, I had 
known her all my life, until she moved away, 
and then I packed up my things and came East, 
resolved to pretend I was Azalea and see what 
happened. It didn’t seem so dreadful — I 
thought at first, it was just a big lark, — but 
now, — oh, now I know how right and honour- 
able people look on a thing like that! ” 

[ 297] 


Patty and Azalea 

She cast a hopeless glance at Van Reypen, and 
though he smiled at her and started toward her 
she shook her head and waved him back. 

“ On the trip East, I met the Bixbys, and as 
we at once arranged for my entrance into their 
studios, I was more than ever eager to put the 
matter through. 

“ So I came. Oh, I hate to think how I im- 
posed on the Farnsworths ! They were so kind 
to me, right from the start. Then they asked 
me questions about my father, and I didn’t 
know what to do or say. I tried to fool you, 
Bill, with a made-up letter but I didn’t succeed. 
And, — all the way along, I kept feeling worse 
and worse, — meaner and meaner — at the life of 
deceit I was leading. I made good in the pic- 
tures, — and oh, Patty, will you ever forgive me 
for taking Baby over there! But I knew she 
was safe with me, and, like all the rest, I didn’t 
realise how bad I was ! 

“ I don’t ask or expect forgiveness, — I know 
you couldn’t grant that. But lately I felt I 
couldn’t go on any longer, — and I couldn’t 
bring myself to confess, — so, — I ran away.” 

“And you are really Alice Adams?” asked 
Farnsworth, but Phil interrupted. 

“ Wait a minute, everybody. Before Azalea 
[ 298 ] 


Philip’s Brownie 

■ — or Alice, — or whoever she is, says another 
word, I want to say that she is my promised 
wife! I want you, dear, and whatever your 
name is, I want it to be changed to Van Rey- 
pen. Tell me, — tell them all, — that you con- 
sent.” 

A beautiful expression came over the girl’s 
face. 

She turned to Philip, her soft, dark eyes shin- 
ing with utter joy and a tender smile of glad 
surprise curving her quivering lips. 

“ Oh,” she breathed, “ oh, Phil! ” 

“ You do consent? ” he urged, “ you must say 
yes, before you tell us any more ! ” 

“May I, Patty?” and a shy, sweet face 
looked questioningly at the one she was glad to 
consider her mentor. 

“ I think so,” Patty smiled back, for she knew 
how matters stood with Phil, and she had faith 
in the true heart of the girl beside her. 

“ Yes, then,” she said, softly, looking at 
Philip, — and that was their troth-plight. 

“ Go on, dear,” he said, briefly, and with a 
glad smile in his eyes. 

“There’s little more to tell; I am Alice 
Adams, and my father was born in Bos- 


[ 299 ] 


Patty and Azalea 

“ Good gracious, Phil ! ” Patty cried. “ Why, 
this child is a real Adams ! ” 

“ Of course she is,” said Farnsworth, “ I 
knew the Adamses that lived in Horner’s Corn- 
ers. You see, I was there some years myself. 
Why, your mother was a sweet little woman, 
with a face like Dresden china.” 

“Yes; I’ve a miniature of her. She was 

beautiful. I’m like my father ” 

“ And you’re beautiful! ” cried Patty, kissing 
her. “ Oh, Zaly, — I can’t call you anything 
else! what a story you have told us! ” 

“ And now, let’s proceed to forget it,” said 
Farnsworth, in his big, genial way. “ You 
and I’ll talk it over a little when we’re alone, — 
but just now, I adopt you as my cousin, — I’m 
proud to have an Adams in my family, even 
if only by adoption! Your escapade was a 
wild one, — er — Alice, — but it was an escapade , 
— not a crime. And for my part, you are fully 
and freely forgiven, and — here’s where Patty 
takes up the theme.” 

“ I do,” said Patty; “ and I add my full and 
free forgiveness to Little Billee’s and I invite 
you to come right back to Wistaria Porch and 
make us a long visit, — as Alice Adams.” 

“ And we thank you, Miss Grayson,” Farns- 

[ 300 ] 


Philip’s Brownie 

worth said, “ for restoring our lost cousin, and 
at the same time giving us a new one ! ” 

Miss Grayson laughed. “ It’s been a perfect 
show for me,” she said; “ I think it’s all more 
dramatic than any play I ever acted in.” 

“ Come, Alice, dear,” Van Reypen said, 
with an air of proprietorship, “ where’s your 
coat? ” 

Shyly, Alice looked up at him. 

“Are you sure you want me?” she said. 

“Sure I want an Adams? Well, rather! I 
never aspired to such a renowned name for my 
fiancee! My own family pride is humbled to 
the dust.” 

“ Nonsense ! ” laughed Patty, “ the Van Rey- 
pen stock can hold its own! ” 

And then they quickly got ready and started 
for home. 

Farnsworth took the wheel, and invited Patty 
to sit beside him. 

This left Van Reypen and Alice together in 
the tonneau, and neither objected to the ar- 
rangement. 

They conversed softly as the car sped swiftly 
along, and Phil realised how beautiful was the 
dear face beside him, now that worry and care 
had been replaced by happiness and love. 

[301 ] 


Patty and Azalea 

“ But I don’t see how you can forgive me,” 
Alice said, “ I did such a dreadful thing.” 

“ I forgive you for two reasons,” Van Rey- 
pen returned, “ first, because you didn’t ap- 
preciate the real wrong you were doing, and 
second, because I love you. Love you enough 
to forgive far more than that! ” 

“ You’ll never have to forgive me for any- 
thing again, for I’m never going to do any- 
thing you’ll disapprove of. I’m among nice 
people forever now, — and I’m going to learn 
to be like them.” 

“ You’re one of the ‘ nice people ’ yourself, 
by birth, and your name is among the best. 
But I doubt if I can learn to call you ‘ Alice.’ 
To me, you will always be ‘ Brownie ’, — my 
own Brownie girl.” 

“ I like that best,” she said, contentedly, and 
smiled happily at Philip as his hand clasped 
hers, and his eyes carried a message of love 
that needed no spoken word to tell of its depth 
and sincerity. 


J m. 

[302] 


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